The Premier League will imminently plug the plug on their deal with Russian TV broadcasters, according to reports, meaning their lucrative £6million-a-year partnership will be terminated three months early.
According to The Telegraph, lawyers have handed executives the go-ahead to tear up the remaining time on the the top-flight’s agreement with Rambler Media. Feeds to Russia are expected to be cut in the next 24 hours.
Influential companies and brands have attempted to crackdown on Russia after their bloody invasion of Ukraine, with the Premier League now deciding that they will cut off transmissions inside the country as a result of their aggression.
In a surprise development, footage from the top tier was screened to Moscow over the weekend, with a ‘Football Stands Together’ graphic displayed over the match clock during the Manchester derby in Okko Sport’s coverage.
It is also said that the EFL will scrap their deals, too, with clubs ‘certain’ to give permission for the dramatic move to go ahead by tomorrow at the latest.
Their agreements with Match TV and Football-TV were set to expire this year.
In addition, the Football Association are set to freeze their deals for the FA Cup.
Sberbank, the state-owned company which runs Rambler, was recently named on the list of sanctioned Russian entities in the UK.
The Premier League will reportedly pull the plug on Russian broadcasters, reports claim
They were also targeted by sanctions in the US, affecting their ability to conduct business internationally, and expelled from the SWIFT payment system.
Liz Truss, the UK’s foreign secretary, has said all Russian banks will be subjected to a ‘full asset freeze’ within days.
Clive Efford MP, part of the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee, and Chris Bryant MP, head of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia, have both urged the authorities to end their football TV deals.
Yesterday, Okko Sport, a streaming platform that holds the rights in Russia, did not broadcast the pre-match displays of support for Ukraine – although the anti-war graphic was shown, causing viewers to complain on social media.
The top-flight’s ‘Football Stands Together’ message was displayed in Russia at the weekend
Coverage of the Manchester derby on Sunday was shown in the country despite the invasion
The company responded, however, by saying that they received their picture directly from a supplier and could not resolve the situation.
They are believed to have paid $8.2million (£6.2m) a year for their rights and are owned by Sberbank, the same firm which runs Rambler.
Asked about the messaging during the derby, an Okko Sport spokesperson said: ‘Since the signal is transmitted by the copyright holder, the display of this phrase was done by the broadcast signal copyright holder.’
Players of the top-flight’s Fantasy Premier League game in Russia saw the same ‘Football Stands Together’ post online, this time in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
Displays of support for Ukraine took place at several grounds to condemn the bloodshed
It is believed around eight million users play the game worldwide, and the platform is still available in Russia despite the efforts to isolate the country.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters revealed the broadcast deals were ‘under review’.
‘Clearly broadcast contracts in Russia are under review,’ he said. ‘We’re looking at suspension or termination.’
He added: ‘It’s happening now. We’re looking at a fast-moving situation.’
Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, said the TV deals were ‘under review’
Sportsmail contacted the Premier League for comment, and were directed to their statement which said anti-war messages would be shown in the UK and overseas.
Horrifying images, meanwhile, have laid bare the refugee crisis in Ukraine with Russia continuing to shell civilians trying to flee bomb-ravaged cities.
Heartbreaking pictures show civilians trying to flee their homes in Irpin, near Kyiv, as loved ones hold on to each other and people offer to help elderly citizens.
The images emerged as Joseph Borrell, the EU’s top diplotmat, said as many as five million refugees could flee into the bloc if the barbaric invasion continues.
Residents cross the destroyed bridge as they flee from the frontline town of Irpin, Kyiv region
A woman is assisted by a member of the Ukrainian military as she flees heavy fighting in Irpin
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