CNC brings proceedings against FC Barca, Sevilla for non-compliance

The Council of the Comisión Nacional de la Competencia has ordered the Investigations Division to bring infringement proceedings against Mediapro, F.C. Barcelona, Sevilla Futbol Club, and Racing de Santander, for non-compliance with a CNC Council resolution. The Resolution, issued on April 14, 2010, prohibited Mediapro, the football clubs, and Racing de Santander from agreeing to the acquisition of broadcasting rights for the Spanish League and the King’s Cup (except the final) for more than three seasons. Such agreements were found to restrict competition in the content acquisition market and in the downstream resale market, thereby violating article 1 of the Spanish Competition Act 15/2007 of 3 July 2007 (LDC) and article 101 of the TFEU.

However, on May 3, the CNC Council issued a Resolution that found that the parties had signed contracts that granted broadcasting rights for more than three seasons.

Full content: Comision Nacional de la Competencia

Related content: A Review of the Competition Law Implications of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Nicolas Petit & Norman Neyrinck, Univerity of Liege School of Law)

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