UEFA welcomes anti-piracy operation in Italy
Friday, June 21, 2024
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The Guardia di Finanza blocked illegal platforms with 1.3 million subscribers which were unlawfully streaming UEFA EURO 2024 matches.
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The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), organiser and owner of UEFA EURO 2024, welcomes the anti-piracy operation conducted by the Guardia di Finanza in Italy, coordinated by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office, following a report submitted by Sky Italia.
The operation saw 14 searches carried out against 13 suspects in Italy. The Guardia di Finanza, the Italian body primarily responsible for dealing with financial crime and smuggling, blocked access to popular illegal IPTV services which were unlawfully streaming UEFA EURO 2024.
“UEFA welcomes and supports this successful operation. We would like to thank everyone involved for their ongoing efforts in fighting piracy by carrying out decisive action against organised crime,” a UEFA spokesperson said.
“Financial revenue generated from media rights is vital for the well-being of football at all levels. In particular, it is essential to football development and grassroots investment throughout Europe. Therefore, the fight against online piracy of our competitions is of utmost importance and the contribution of our media partners is crucial in combatting what is a shared problem.”