UEFA Joins ACE to Combat $28B Live Sports Piracy

UEFA has become the first exclusive sports rights-holder to join the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global anti-piracy coalition led by the Motion Picture Association and comprising over 50 major entertainment companies. This partnership allows UEFA to participate in ACE's Live Tier, which focuses on combating illegal live sports streaming through real-time intelligence, takedowns, and cooperation with law enforcement worldwide. UEFA's involvement strengthens coordinated global enforcement efforts to protect media rights, which are vital to funding professional and grassroots football across Europe. Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA's Executive Director of Marketing, highlighted that the partnership expands enforcement capabilities and deepens collaboration with industry leaders to disrupt piracy. Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association and ACE, emphasized that UEFA's membership enhances ACE's ability to defend sports content and protect fans and broadcasters globally. This move coincides with UEFA's latest media rights tender for the 2027-33 cycle and reinforces the role of UC3, the entity managing UEFA's commercial rights.