“More than 78,000 community members… were benefiting from the broadcasting, defrauding two well-known Spanish companies of more than 42 million euros ($44.4 million),” said Spain’s Guardia Civil, a national law enforcement agency, in a statement.
The operation began following a complaint filed jointly by La Liga and broadcaster Movistar, and finished with the identification of the alleged perpetrator, a 37-year-old man, now under investigation.
La Guardia Civil desactiva Cristal Azul, el mayor canal de ‘streaming’ pirata en España: 78.000 usuarios se quedan sin fútbol.
Los agentes acusan al presunto responsable, un hombre de 37 años, de ocasionar un fraude de 42 millones de euros.https://t.co/UsAevcvv7U pic.twitter.com/HcmQwUxOO8
— Más q Guardia Civil (@MqGuardiaCivil) November 15, 2024
The operation is a victory for La Liga president Javier Tebas in his battle with illegal streaming, which he considers to be “theft” that could drive football “into bankruptcy”.
© Agence France-Presse