Key Points:
- UEFA says protecting media rights is vital to sustaining professional and grassroots sports.
- The partnership expands ACE’s Live Tier to target illegal sports streaming in real time.
- ACE, led by the Motion Picture Association, now unites over 50 major entertainment companies worldwide.
The Union of European Football Associations has joined the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, becoming the first exclusive sports rights-holder to align with the world’s largest coalition fighting digital piracy.
UEFA’s membership expands the reach of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global anti-piracy initiative led by the Motion Picture Association. ACE includes more than 50 major entertainment companies and studios who work together to protect copyrighted material and combat worldwide streaming-related piracy.
As part of its new partnership, UEFA will participate in ACE’s Live Tier program, which focuses on identifying and dismantling illegal operations that distribute pirated live sports broadcasts. The Live Tier coordinates enforcement actions with law enforcement agencies and private partners worldwide. UEFA’s involvement also reinforces the work of UC3, the entity that manages the commercial rights for UEFA’s club competitions, which has long pursued measures to protect the value of its broadcast partners’ investments.
“UEFA joining ACE represents a landmark moment in our global content protection strategy,” said Guy-Laurent Epstein, the Executive Director of Marketing at UEFA. “This partnership allows us to expand our enforcement capabilities, deepen our collaboration with industry leaders and leverage ACE’s proven capabilities to disrupt illegal services.”
Charles Rivkin, the Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association and Chairman of ACE, said UEFA’s membership strengthens the group’s ability to respond to live-event piracy in real time.
“With UEFA joining the world’s largest anti-piracy coalition, we are strengthening our fight to detect, deter and dismantle online piracy everywhere,” Rivkin said in a statement on Tuesday. “UEFA’s membership bolsters ACE’s ability to defend sports content from nefarious players in real time and amplifies the reach of our efforts to protect football fans and broadcasters across the globe.”
Members of ACE’s Live Tier gain access to real-time intelligence, international policy advocacy and cross-sector enforcement tools. The program operates global hubs equipped with dedicated technology to monitor piracy activity during live events.
UEFA said the move reflects its ongoing commitment to safeguarding the economic foundation of European football. Revenues from media rights remain critical to supporting professional leagues, grassroots programs and development initiatives across Europe. By joining ACE, UEFA and UC3 aim to protect those financial streams from illegal distribution that undermines legitimate broadcasters and fans alike.
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