Absent from the Champions League Matchday Five clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid, Vinícius Júnior still found himself in the spotlight. This time, not for his on-field performances, but due to a controversy surrounding audiovisual piracy that angered La Liga president Javier Tebas.
According to Javier Tebas, Vinícius Júnior allegedly watched the Liverpool-Real Madrid match on the Brazilian channel TNT Sports, despite being in Madrid, where broadcasting rights are exclusively held by Movistar Television. For Tebas, this necessarily implies the use of a VPN or illegal device, constituting a violation of Spanish audiovisual rights laws.
“If Vinícius was in Madrid on Wednesday and watched this match on a Brazilian channel, that is piracy. He has been warned not to repeat this,” Tebas stated, as reported by Real France.
La Liga and Real Madrid’s Reaction
Subsequently, La Liga sent a letter to Real Madrid expressing its dissatisfaction and emphasizing the importance of educating players about respecting audiovisual rights. While no official sanction has been announced, the Madrid club may tighten its recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.
Vinícius is Not an Isolated Case
This incident is not the first of its kind. Recently, Fermín López, a young prospect at FC Barcelona, was also caught red-handed for piracy. La Liga demanded sanctions, but the matter ended with a simple warning and a minor fine paid by the Catalan club.
A Relentless Fight Against Piracy
Javier Tebas is waging an uncompromising war against audiovisual piracy, which he considers a scourge on Spanish football, causing an estimated €700 million in losses annually. The Vinícius Júnior case highlights how much this battle has become a priority for La Liga, which tolerates no breaches, even from its most iconic stars.
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