CAF & beIN Media Fined $300,000 Each for Breach of Tender Process Regulations

CAF and beIN Media Fined $300,000 Each for Breach of Tender Process Regulations

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competitions Commission has fined Qatari sports broadcasting giant beIN Media and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) $300,000 each for a breach of competition regulations. The commission also ruled that no single entity would be allowed to purchase all broadcast packages.

According to Dr. Willard Mwemba, the Chief Executive of the COMESA Competitions Commission, investigations dating back to 2017 revealed that agreements for the commercialization of media rights of football competitions organized by CAF violated regulations.

These exclusive media rights were granted to beIN in a non-open tender process and were considered excessive, likely leading to significant prevention and distortion of competition in Africa.

As a result of this decision, CAF is required to offer various media rights as separate, commercially viable packages on a platform-neutral basis. The move is expected to create an open marketplace, allowing companies to bid on media rights and ending conflicts where exclusive rights are acquired by richer networks, denying access to smaller broadcasters.

This decision is seen as a victory for smaller broadcasters and fans advocating for more transparency and competition in the African football market. The response of CAF and beIN Media to the fines and the new regulations remains to be seen.