Italian league clubs seek huge compensation

Italian football clubs are seeking €1.8 billion in compensation from three major media agencies, following claims of massive revenue losses from the sale of international broadcasting rights between 2008 and 2018. This move comes after a 2019 Italian court ruling that found IMG, MP & Silva, and BE4 had colluded in the bidding process, restricting competition.

According to a court document and informed legal sources, the antitrust ruling prompted approximately 20 Italian clubs, including AC Milan, Inter Milan, Torino, and Fiorentina, to file a lawsuit against the aforementioned media agencies in a Milan court. The Italian league is seeking €1.8 billion in compensation for revenue lost as a result of this collusion.

On the other hand, the media outlets denied any responsibility for it, stating that the proceeds from the sales were in line with market prices.

It is worth noting that Serie A generated approximately one billion euros from the sale of international media licenses during the decade beginning in 2008. However, broadcasting rights remain the primary source of revenue for Italian clubs, and these revenues are significantly lower than those in the English Premier League and La Liga. Furthermore, some of the clubs involved in this issue have been relegated to lower divisions within the Italian league system.