The Pro League will have to pay nearly 20 million to TV rights holders

There is talk of an amount of 16 to 20 million euros. Eleven of the 40 league matches had been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic as the lockdown came into effect, later leading the Pro League to decide to halt the league.

A few weeks after this decision, Proximus, Telenet and VOO stepped up to demand compensation from the Pro League. At the time, a clause in the contract provided that in the event of force majeure leading to the cessation of the competition, the sums paid by the holders of the broadcasting rights remained acquired by the football clubs.

“It is most certainly this notion of force majeure which will have been at the heart of the debates, but we will not know anything about it”, writes L’Echo. “The case was handled by arbitration, which was quick, not subject to appeal, but was supposed to take place away from prying eyes.”

According to the newspaper, the rights holders won their case in principle. Debates must still take place on the amounts to be compensated, estimated between 16 and 20 million euros.

Contacted, the Pro League did not wish to comment on this procedure which is still in progress.