Trouble with V-League television copyright

AVG currently owns the V-League television rights for 20 years. The “bosses” believe that this contract is inconsistent with the Law on Physical Education and Sports and needs to be reviewed.

In early October 2010, the Global Audiovisual Company (AVG) raised the issue of purchasing the television copyright of VFF tournaments. After meeting with club representatives in Nha Trang, in December 2010, VFF agreed to sell the V-League television copyright to AVG. Accordingly, AVG exclusively owns the V-League television copyright for 20 years. The contract value for the first year is 6 billion VND. The following year, it will increase by 10%. VFF keeps 50% of the contract value. The remaining half is divided among the clubs.

The basis for VFF to carry out this contract, which is considered a record in terms of time, is the Professional Football Regulations. “The television copyright of matches in football tournaments belongs to VFF. Only VFF has the right to negotiate and sign contracts or allow partners to sign contracts on live television copyright of all matches”. Article 68 of the Professional Football Regulations clearly states.

Trouble arose after VFF and the “bosses” agreed to establish Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF). This company operates under the business model and will replace VFF to organize and manage V-League. Mr. Nguyen Duc Kien – Chairman of Hanoi ACB team, assessed this as a unique contract in the world because “no tournament sells television rights for up to 20 years”. Mr. Kien asked VFF to review this contract because it could have a profound impact on Vietnamese football. Mr. Kien’s proposal was supported by 28 clubs participating in the First Division and V-League 2012. Accordingly, the “bosses” asked VFF to let VPF decide on the issue of television rights and at the same time decide on the division of profits based on the shares of each shareholder (14 clubs and VFF).

“National sports federations, professional sports clubs and other organizations and individuals that organize high-performance sports competitions (TTTTC) and professional sports competitions (TTCN) are the owners of the TTTTC and TTCN competitions they organize”. Article 53 of the Law on Physical Training and Sports. From this Law, the “bosses” raise the question, do the Professional Football Regulations conflict with the Law on Physical Training and Sports? Based on this Law, VPF is the owner of V-League, the exploitation of benefits from V-League must belong to this company.

“We have fully studied the Law before signing the contract with AVG. This issue was decided by the VFF Executive Committee. The contract signing process was carried out in accordance with the correct procedures. I affirm that VFF did not violate the law when selling the V-League television rights to AVG.” The VFF representative affirmed the legality of the 20-year V-League television rights contract sold to AVG.

The “bosses” said that the birth of VPF requires VFF to amend the Professional Football Regulations to suit the times and at the same time, to let this company have the final say in the issue of television copyright. “Amending the Professional Football Regulations to suit reality is normal, but the specifics must be carefully considered. However, whatever is agreed upon should be done first, and the problems should be resolved gradually. Demanding everything to be standardized at once is unscientific,” commented a VFF representative.

“The tournament system still belongs to VFF, only the management and operation changes are for VPF to replace. VFF is still the representative managing the clubs and tournaments. If VFF does not recognize V.League, the tournament is invalid. The contract between VFF and AVG has been signed, it is possible that it will only be handed over to VPF to exploit.” VFF Vice President Pham Ngoc Vien proposed a solution.

VPF is considered the first part of the “war between the bosses and VFF”. This company has not been established yet. The review of the V-League television copyright contract that VFF sold to AVG for 20 years has only stopped at the level of a proposal from football bosses. Insiders believe that when VPF is established, the second part of the “war between the bosses and VFF” will take place with the next target being the “cake” of V-League television copyright.

According to VnExpress