There’s a new twist in the ongoing dispute between the LFP, Canal+ and beIN Sports.
On Thursday the commercial court in Nanterre prevented Canal+ from terminating its sublicensing agreement with beIN Sports. As it stands Canal will have to continue broadcasting two matches from Ligue 1 and pay the previously agreed €332 million annual bill. The first payment of €55 million is due on August 5 and the LFP has taking its own action against beIN to ensure it receives the sum.
beIN Sports acquired the so-called Lot 3 in 2018 and then sublicensed it to Canal. At the same time the Qatari channel is seeking to reduce the size of its fee.
Canal has been seeking to withdraw its coverage of French top-flight football since the LFP awarded 80% of matches to Amazon for €250 million a year in June, when had agreed a larger sum for only 20% of the matches.