In a startling turn of events, La Liga president Javier Tebas has called out Real Madrid’s star winger, Vinicius Jr, for what he describes as an infringement of broadcasting rights after the young Brazilian posted an Instagram story featuring a televised broadcast of his team’s recent Champions League encounter with Liverpool.
The match, which took place at the iconic Anfield, saw Carlo Ancelotti’s side suffer a disappointing 2-0 loss, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo sealing the fate for the visitors. Vinicius Jr, sidelined due to injury, has been instrumental for Real Madrid this season, contributing 12 goals and 8 assists in just 18 competitive outings.
Despite being unable to contribute on the pitch, the 24-year-old made sure to support his teammates from a distance, watching the game in what is universally regarded as one of football’s most electric atmospheres. However, his enthusiasm turned contentious when he shared a snapshot on social media of him tuning into the game, which coincidentally displayed the TNT Sports Brasil logo on the screen.
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Tebas expressed frustration over Vinicius’ post, stressing that viewing rights for Champions League matches in Spain lie with Movistar. He stated, “During the Liverpool vs Real Madrid game, Vinicius Jr shared a photo on his Instagram story, clearly showcasing the TNT Sports logo. This is considered piracy. If you’re in Spain, UCL games must be viewed through Movistar.”
Reports indicate that Tebas, who has long been vocal about broadcasting rights issues, suggested that such piracy potentially costs La Liga an astronomical €700 million (£581m/$740m) each season. Following this, he directed the league to send a formal letter to Real Madrid regarding the matter.
According to sources from Relevo, Tebas further clarified his stance, indicating, “If he is indeed in Madrid, as I believe, then what he did falls under piracy. Access to Champions League content in Spain should strictly be through Movistar. To watch that broadcast, he would need a VPN, or a satellite setup redirecting to another area. This behavior is outside the normative access of Movistar’s rights.” He reminded that any future instances need to be addressed to prevent further conflicts.
Despite the harsh criticism from the La Liga president, it has been reported that Vinicius and others could potentially view TNT Sports Brasil legally if they possess a Brazilian HBO Max account while in Spain. Thus, whether any actual legal violation occurred remains unclear.
