| Beckham nets 1st Galaxy goal in over a year David Beckham scored his first goal of the season Sunday night on a 26-yard free kick in the 39th minute for the Los Angeles Galaxy against Chivas USA. cbc.ca |
Broadcast battle reaches Euro court A Portsmouth landlady is contesting England's top-flight competition's TV copyright over Saturday afternoon gamesThe Premier League today embarked on a long-awaited court action that could have profound implications for the future of the £3bn-plus its clubs earn from broadcast contracts and equally severe consequences for fans who like to watch 3pm kick-offs in the pub on a Saturday afternoonThe European court of justice in Luxembourg was the setting for what appears an uneven legal battle: in one corner, a doughty Portsmouth landlady who wants to continue showing foreign broadcasts of top-flight English football in her pub; in the other, lawyers for the Premier League who claim Karen Murphy, landlady of the Red, White and Blue in Southsea, is breaking copyright law, warning of the dire impact on its revenues and the knock-on effect for the film and television industries if they lose.The Premier League argues that the future of one of the UK's biggest and highest-profile exports – watched in 211 countries and worth £1.4bn – is at stake.In an attempt to save on the prices charged by Sky, Murphy purchased a Greek system through an importer and paid an annual subscription. The Premier League, which sells its rights exclusively to Sky in the UK, said she was breaking the law. But her lawyers claim its position contravenes the EC Treaty that guarantees free trade between member states."I think it's unjust. I think it's a greedy private company trying to dictate to the small people what they can and cannot do, purely for profit," Murphy told the BBC. "The law needs changing. If I don't fight, who is going to fight?"The Premier League is seeking a ban on the import, sale, installation and use of the decoders.Because overseas rights holders show matches on a Saturday afternoon, a knock-on effect is that the 3pm blackout on live televised football in the UK – designed to stop smaller clubs losing fans to live Premier League matches on TV – is breached on a weekly basis.Alongside the criminal case against Murphy, a civil case against two importers, QC Leisure and AV Station, and four publicans injuncted by the Premier League is also being considered by the ECJ."This is very much a David v Goliath battle for the 21st century. We say that it prevents fair trade and is anti-competitive because it hands Sky a monopoly. If we were successful, it would mean the price was determined by the marketplace rather than by Sky," said Paul Dixon, a partner at Molesworth Bright Clegg, acting on behalf of AV Station.The saga began in June 2006 when Media Protection Services, a company employed by the Premier League to crack down on the mushrooming number of pubs showing overseas broadcasts, took Murphy and a string of other landlords to court.She was originally acquitted because it was found she had not acted dishonestly as the system was recommended by her then brewery but, when taken to court for a second time, she was fined £8,000. A series of appeals followed until in June 2008 the cases were referred to the ECJ for direction.Opening arguments were heard today, with the legal opinion of the advocate general due to follow on 13 January and final guidance due in March.John Cronin, senior associate at Smithfield Partners, which is acting for QC Leisure, said: "Our client remains confident in its position under both national and European law which we believe was reflected positively in the oral submissions made before the ECJ."The Premier League is waiting for the determination of the ECJ before resuming its campaign to stop pubs showing matches on a Saturday afternoon. In most high streets up and down the country fans can currently watch matches on a Saturday afternoon via overseas satellite broadcasts.Dixon said it would be no bad thing if the Premier League's revenues were cut. "There is a lot less money swilling around in the Bundesliga than the Premier League and there didn't appear to be anything wrong with the state of their national game when they thrashed us in South Africa," he said.A briefing document from the Judge Rapporteur stated that articles 28 and 49 of European competition law ban restrictions on imports and services among EU states. But it also included submissions from the British government, which argued that the Premier League's ability to sell its rights on a territory by territory basis was "part of the essential function of its copyright". The French government said it should be for individual member states to decide how it interpreted the law.A similar case, launched by Uefa and BSkyB against another importer of decoders, is also due to be heard by the ECJ but does not yet have a court date."The territoriality of copyright and broadcast exclusivity is enshrined in European law and should be protected. The rights for Premier League, and other content, are clearly more valuable from market to market and so there could be significant implications – not just for sport but music, film, anyone who sells content on a territory by territory basis – if this principle is undermined in any way," said a Premier League spokesman."Ultimately it is the consumer who will suffer as investment in quality content could fall and culturally distinct services struggle to compete in what would be effectively a pan-European market. We're not the ones challenging the law here, just trying to protect what seems like a reasonable and sensible provision."But Murphy said she had the interests of fans at heart."I'm not damaging football. Football is damaging itself by dictating when matches are shown. Supporters don't want a match on a Tuesday night – which suits the broadcaster. They want a match on a Saturday afternoon," she said. "The whole thing has got way out of control. It's pure greed."Underlying the dispute is a common complaint from publicans that Sky's prices are too high.While acknowledging Sky's exclusive rights in the UK, a spokesman for the Beer and Pub Association said: "While Sky say they have put up prices by around 12% – large enough in itself – the actual bills landing on doormats show price increases of well over 20%. That is not only way over inflation, but difficult to justify in these economically constrained times."The consequence is more and more community pubs are taking Sky out. Sky need to urgently reconsider the impact this is having on their community presence and profile."But there could be unintended consequences if the publicans win. Some rights experts believe that the Premier League would have to sell its rights on a pan-European basis. As its lawyers are likely to point out, that would mitigate against the competitive market that EC competition authorities have been attempting to create. And one of the only companies with enough reach and financial clout to bid for the rights would be BSkyB.Premier LeagueCourt of Justice of the European UnionOwen Gibsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Coaching drama deepens at Glory The coaching drama at Perth Glory continues with assistant Kenny Lowe quitting the club effective immediately. foxsports.com.au |
Rangers 1-1 Valencia It is an illustration of Rangers' performance level that they could harbour dejection despite claiming a valuable point.The Scottish champions remain unbeaten in Group C and Europa League football as a minimum should be forthcoming in the new year. A draw with a side who sit in the upper echelons of La Liga would have been gladly accepted before a ball was kicked, yet this was an encounter Rangers should have won. Only wastefulness in front of goal prevented such a scenario from occurring.Maurice Edu handed Rangers the lead, before the same player headed into his own net in rather bizarre circumstances to restore parity.The hosts must take great credit for the part they played, against superior opposition, in a pulsating contest. They would rather points to match plaudits, nonetheless."I feel a little bit disappointed that we didn't take three points, considering the chances we created," said the Rangers manager Walter Smith. "I don't think we have created that number of opportunities in a Champions League game [before]."If we can continue to play as well as we have done in the first three games, we have an opportunity to qualify for the last 16. But that's all it is."Rangers had opened with attacking purpose, a matter which set the tone.Steven Naismith evaded the Valencia defence before seeing his close-range attempt blocked by the goalkeeper César Sánchez. Kenny Miller was the next to try his luck, the hosts' sole striker just unable to guide home a near-post header.When Sánchez tipped over a fierce Sasa Papac drive after 20 minutes, the home crowd had genuine and audible aspirations of an upset. The counter-point had evidence in recent history; Rangers had started purposefully against Sevilla here a year ago, but ultimately crumbled to a 4-1 defeat.Miller should still have emphasised his team's early superiority. In demonstrating the careless finishing which undermines so much of his good work, the 30-year-old fired straight at Sánchez having been sent one-on-one by Steven Davis.Edu proved the unlikely figure to break the deadlock. The United States international rose the highest to meet a Vladimir Weiss corner, with Sánchez trying to hide his blatant culpability by claiming in vain that he was fouled.Valencia had looked threatening at times on the counterattack, but the advantage was no more than Rangers merited.The overwhelming sense at that juncture was that their next challenge was to reach half-time with that lead. They duly did, despite increased urgency from the Spaniards during the intervening 11 minutes. In the midst of that pressure, though, Edu struck a post from 22 yards with Miller this time guilty of profligacy with the rebound.That was punished within 45 seconds of the restart. Edu's latest header flew beyond Allan McGregor, with the midfielder woefully miscuing his attempt to clear a Tino Costa free-kick.Valencia's touch during the first 15 minutes of the second period was simply ominous viewing for the Rangers support. That was their only spell of domination, however.Davis came within a despairing save of successfully chipping Sánchez from long range before , Naismith seemed surprised to be the recipient of a Weiss cross, just six yards out, and duly prodded wide.Ricky Foster blasted Rangers' last hope high into the Glasgow sky. That moment perfectly summed up the frustration few could have anticipated Rangers feeling. Their visit to the Mestalla on 2 November will hardly be short on significance.Champions LeagueRangersValenciaEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Panathinaikos 0 Rubin Kazan 0: match report Visitors left frustrated after dominant performance yields just a point in Greece. telegraph.co.uk |