The Portuguese Competition Authority (AdC) has released an opinion regarding the centralized sale of audiovisual rights for professional men's football competitions, specifically the First and Second League, as proposed by the Portuguese Professional Football League (Liga) and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

In its assessment, the AdC found that the proposed framework aligns well with the competition advocacy principles outlined in its 2018 Recommendation. Key elements of the framework include the allocation of rights through competitive, transparent, and periodic procedures, as well as rules that promote contestability and facilitate the entry of new operators.

The AdC also stressed the importance of participation rules that mitigate risks of collusion and market foreclosure, ensuring effective competition in the acquisition and exploitation of rights. The authority highlighted the necessity of having multiple buyers to prevent the concentration of rights in a single firm, thereby enhancing competition throughout the value chain for the benefit of consumers.

The framework proposed by Liga and FPF incorporates significant structural mechanisms to foster competition, such as the segmentation of rights into lots and rules ensuring the involvement of at least two major firms in the exploitation of football content. These aspects are crucial for creating an effective centralized sale framework that benefits consumers.

This opinion is in accordance with Decree-Law No. 22-B/2021, which mandates the principle of centralized sale of audiovisual rights and requires prior assessment by the AdC.