Daily Mail

REBEL BAN COULD KILL OFF TV DEALS

- MATT HUGHES

THE European and US Ryder Cup teams risk breaching contracts worth tens of millions with broadcast and commercial partners if they ban Saudi rebels, Sportsmail can reveal.

Henrik Stenson was stripped of the Europe captaincy on Wednesday ahead of the Norwegian’s defection to LIV. Ryder Cup officials have yet to confirm whether players who have signed up to the new rebel circuit will be able to compete in Rome next summer, with their decision likely to be heavily influenced by financial considerat­ions. Sportsmail has learned that the Ryder Cup’s major sponsors, including UK rights holder Sky Sports, insisted upon exit clauses in their contracts entitling them to rebates if a full-strength field does not take part due to decisions made by organisers. Sky Sports extended their deal for live broadcast rights of the Ryder Cup last January to cover next year’s event as well as the 2025 edition.

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