UEFA supports international anti-piracy operation
UEFA has expressed strong support for “Operation Kratos,” an international anti-piracy initiative led by Bulgaria’s Ministry of the Interior, with significant contributions from Italy, Croatia, Europol, and Eurojust. Conducted during the summer of 2024, coinciding with major events like UEFA EURO 2024, the operation targeted a vast network of illegal streaming platforms that serviced over 22 million users worldwide. The coordinated efforts resulted in 112 searches, equipment seizures, identification of 102 suspects, and 11 arrests. UEFA played an active role by providing detailed information on unauthorized streams of its competitions, leveraging its advanced content protection program. A UEFA spokesperson emphasized the critical importance of media rights revenue for both professional and grassroots football, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to combating online piracy to protect the financial foundations of European football.
