Spanish commercial broadcaster Atresmedia has accused the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) of negotiating a deal for rights to the national team without conducting a tender process.
News website El Confidencial, citing a statement issued by Atresmedia, said that the complaint related to a rights package of friendly matches.
Atresmedia said: “The RFEF has negotiated and almost closed a deal with a TV operator for the exclusive assignment of the rights of exploitation of friendly matches of the Spanish (national team), without those rights offered to the market, the mechanism by which you get the highest possible performance from those rights. This process is being carried out irregularly and without giving an opportunity for Atresmedia or other television operators to bid for these rights.”
Atresmedia said that it had alerted Spain’s Competition and Markets Authority, the CNMC, along with Miguel Cardenal, the Spanish Secretary of State for Sport.
The broadcaster added: “The goal of Atresmedia is none other than the opening by the RFEF of a transparent and open competition for all operators.”