The German Competition Authority rules that the proposals on the centralized marketing of broadcasting rights football matches are insufficiently competitive (DFL - German Football League / Association of Leagues)

In a statement dated 24 July 2008, which is not a formal decision, the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) has informed the German Football League (DFL) that in its current form the model, which DFL proposes for marketing TV broadcasting rights for the football league, does not meet competition law requirements for adequate consumer involvement. The DFL was in negotiations about a marketing deal with Sirius, a company belonging to the Kirch media group, to grant further elements of exclusivity for the matches of the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga (Bundesliga matches), to pay-TV broadcasters. 1. Background1.1 Legal Background Pursuant to an amendment of the German Act against Restraints on Competition (ARC) in 1998, which became effective on 1 January 1999, the sports sector was