Caf 'cancels' $1bn TV and marketing deal

The Confederation of African Football signed an 11-year television and marketing rights deal

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) says it has scrapped a $1bn (£827.2m) television and marketing rights deal with Lagardere Sports following judgments that the contract breached competition rules.

However, the French company will fight to enforce the contract, which runs until 2028. saying Caf's move is "unlawful, unreasonable and unjustified".

Lagardere Sports added it may accept changes to the terms of the existing agreement, but would seek cash compensation if there was no satisfactory outcome.

Caf insists it had no choice but to cancel the deal after two court judgments went against it.

In a statement, Caf said a Cairo court ruled last November that the contract "breached Egyptian competition rules because Lagardere was appointed Caf's exclusive agent for marketing and media rights for an uninterrupted 20-year period without any open tender."

The court fined African football's ruling body 100 million Egyptian pounds (£4.3m).

The Competition Commission of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (CCC) had also found in 2017 that the agreement infringed competition regulations.

"Given the above developments, Caf had no choice but to terminate the agreement," added the governing body.

"Termination of the agreement is the legal consequence of the judgments of the Egyptian courts and the recommendations and imminent decision of the CCC."

But Arnaud Lagardere, managing partner of the firm, said: "We have here a very, very strong case and we'll do whatever it takes either to maintain the contract, deal with more changes or get a significant amount of cash.

"This is really unfair and even if I know that no-one should be too candid or naïve in this business, I think we don't deserve such a treatment."

Lagardere Sports did not directly address the court or the CCC's view that its agreement breached competition regulations.

The company has been involved in television production of Caf events for almost two decades.

Broadcasters said planned coverage of next week's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which Lagardere was responsible for, had been cancelled.