The French Football League has intensified its measures to combat piracy, amid the increasing spread of illegal streaming services in recent years. This step aims to protect broadcasting rights and reduce the financial losses suffered by the football sector in France.

Press reports revealed that the public prosecutor's office in the city of Arras imposed financial fines on about 20 users of these platforms, ranging between 300 and 400 euros. This is a precedent that reflects the expansion of penalties to include consumers, whereas previously they were limited to providers of illegal IPTV services.

These measures are based on Article 79-4 of the 1986 law, which stipulates the possibility of imposing fines of up to 7,500 euros on anyone proven to be involved in acts of piracy, reflecting the seriousness of the French authorities in addressing this phenomenon.

Since the start of the season, the French League Association has made an agreement with judicial authorities to tighten penalties, as piracy has become a widespread habit causing losses of millions of euros annually. The channel owning the broadcast rights, "Ligue 1+", had previously complained about the continuous rise in the use of IPTV services, prompting the authorities to intervene more strictly.

In an official statement, "LFP Media," the commercial arm of the league, welcomed these rulings, affirming that they send a clear message to users who believe they are beyond punishment, noting that resorting to these services contributes to supporting an illegal system that significantly harms sports.

The upcoming season is expected to see a new shift, as the "Ligue 1+" platform will broadcast all French league matches fully and exclusively, while continuing its campaign against piracy in an attempt to save the deteriorating financial situation of the clubs. This comes especially in light of the decline in broadcasting rights revenues to historically low levels, causing significant concern among French clubs.