The English Football League and Scottish Professional Football League have launched investigations and are considering legal action after discovering that television coverage of their matches has been broadcast in Russia this season.
Football TV, a Russian subscription and streaming service, has broadcast numerous games from the opening two rounds of the EFL, as well as Scottish Premiership matches featuring Celtic, Rangers and Hearts.
The EFL and SPFL stopped broadcasting in Russia in March 2022 after the previous month’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and have not sold rights packages in the country since, so the live footage of games appears to have been obtained and televised illegally.
Until Russia’s full-scale invasion the EFL had a rights contract with Football TV, and the Scottish Premiership was broadcast on Match TV.
The Premier League suspended its broadcasts in Russia at the same time, with its rights held by Okko Sport.