Belarus to Broadcast Euro 2024 Without UEFA Permission

Belarus has announced its intention to broadcast the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship without obtaining permission from UEFA, the governing body of European football. The country's Ministry of Information has included UEFA in a special list of right holders whose intellectual property can be used without their consent, effectively legalizing the pirating of the Euro 2024 coverage in Belarus.

This decision comes despite the fact that no Belarusian teams qualified for the tournament, which is set to take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024. Belarus has previously employed a similar scheme to broadcast the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup without authorization.

Why this matters: Belarus' move to air the Euro 2024 without UEFA's permission represents a significant violation of intellectual property rights and could set a concerning precedent for unauthorized broadcasting of major sporting events. The decision also highlights the ongoing tensions between Belarus and European organizations due to sanctions imposed on the country over human rights abuses and its involvement in the Russian war on Ukraine.

The directive from Belarus' information ministry follows a law enacted in early 2023 that allows the piracy and 'gray' imports of goods from countries deemed 'unfriendly' by Belarus, including the EU, UK, US, and others who have sanctioned the country. This law has now been extended to cover the unauthorized broadcasting of the UEFA Euro 2024.

UEFA has not yet publicly commented on Belarus' decision to broadcast the tournament without permission. However, the move is likely to further strain relations between Belarus and European football authorities, who have already banned Belarusian clubs and the national team from participating in European competitions due to the country's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The unauthorized broadcasting of the Euro 2024 in Belarus is a clear violation of UEFA's intellectual property rights and could potentially lead to legal action against the country. It remains to be seen how UEFA and other European organizations will respond to this latest development in the ongoing tensions with Belarus.

Key Takeaways

• Belarus plans to broadcast Euro 2024 without UEFA's permission, legalizing piracy.
• Belarus previously pirated the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup coverage.
• Belarus' move violates IP rights and sets a concerning precedent for unauthorized sports broadcasting.
• Belarus enacted a law allowing piracy of goods from 'unfriendly' countries, now extended to Euro 2024.
• UEFA's response could further strain relations between Belarus and European football authorities.