Belgian soccer fans face uncertainty after DAZN ends contract

• DAZN terminated the contract with the Belgian Professional League.
• Soccer matches are only accessible through the DAZN add-on.
• Uncertainty is affecting the financing of clubs.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian soccer fans are facing uncertainty regarding the possibility of watching matches of their league this weekend. This is linked to the termination of the agreement between the streaming platform DAZN and the Professional League.

DAZN announced the termination of the contract on Wednesday, explaining that despite several months of attempts, they were unable to reach an agreement on the distribution with Belgian operators, which is a necessary condition under the tender. As a result, matches were only available in the DAZN add-on, which has become financially unviable for subscribers.

“We are disappointed that, despite numerous attempts to resolve the situation, we have reached a point where DAZN has no other choice but to recognize the termination of the contract in accordance with Belgian legislation,” said Massimo D'Amario, general director of DAZN Belgium, in a statement that was published in local media.

The Professional League has not commented on the situation. In June 2024, the league transferred media rights for 2025-2030 to DAZN, under an agreement that was supposed to bring in at least €84.2 million ($97.3 million) per season.

DAZN stated that it is ready to enter into further negotiations with the Professional League to find a new agreement and ensure the broadcast of matches for the remainder of the season.

Consumer Affairs Minister Rob Bendert stated on the Sporza website that "there is still time to find a solution." He added that "this is dramatic for Belgian soccer fans who want to watch Belgian football." The termination of the contract could also have serious consequences for Belgian clubs, which rely on the television rights to secure their budgets.

Tags: Europe/Sport/Football