In a surprising twist at the World Cup, broadcasters from France and Spain have taken a stand against FIFA’s controversial partnership with ExpressVPN, a virtual private network service. The decision to include ExpressVPN as an official sponsor has raised eyebrows and sparked outrage among key figures in the football community.
ExpressVPN was announced as a World Cup partner just before the tournament kicked off, prominently featured on advertising boards throughout the matches. However, this partnership has drawn sharp criticism from Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, who has been vocal about the negative impact of illegal football streaming in Spain. Tebas argues that promoting a VPN service like ExpressVPN complicates efforts to combat unauthorized streaming, which he claims costs La Liga clubs up to โฌ700 million (ยฃ597 million) annually.
In a letter addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Tebas expressed his concerns, stating that the sponsorship sends a “disastrous message” to the football ecosystem. He emphasized that such an agreement contradicts the principles of protecting the audiovisual rights of the sport. Tebas pointed out that FIFA’s collaboration with a company that allegedly facilitates piracy undermines ongoing legal actions against ExpressVPN, which La Liga, beIN Sports France, Canal+, and other sports organizations have initiated in various jurisdictions.
The Association for the Protection of Sports Programs (APPS), representing major broadcasters in France, also voiced its discontent in a letter to Infantino. They urged FIFA to exercise caution in its partnerships, stressing the importance of maintaining the integrity and sustainability of sporting competitions and their audiovisual rights.
Last year, French broadcaster Canal+ successfully secured a court order against ExpressVPN, compelling the service to block 203 domain names linked to illegal streaming sites. This legal backdrop adds weight to the broadcasters’ complaints about FIFA’s sponsorship decision.
In response to the backlash, FIFA stated that it conducts thorough due diligence before entering any commercial agreements. The organization assured that it has assessed the implications of the partnership with ExpressVPN and is committed to not undermining the rights of stakeholders in the football industry.
ExpressVPN, for its part, has communicated to its users that its service should not be used for illegal activities. The company emphasizes the importance of online privacy and security while cautioning users to stay informed about local laws regarding VPN usage.
As the debate unfolds, the question remains: what impact will this controversy have on the future of sponsorships in the world of sports?
