Authorities in the United States and South America have intensified their fight against sports piracy, shutting down or blocking nearly 3,000 websites accused of illegally streaming World Cup matches.
More than 1,000 domains were taken down in the United States, while a similar number were blocked in Colombia as part of coordinated enforcement operations targeting unauthorised broadcasts of the tournament.
The crackdown was carried out under investigations known as “Operation Offsides” and “Operation Red Card”, with authorities warning that illegal streaming networks pose a wider threat than simply violating broadcasting rights.
Ivan J. Arvelo, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, said unauthorised World Cup broadcasts infringe intellectual property rights and can provide revenue for criminal organisations.
The US Department of Justice had previously announced the removal of around 400 webpages linked to illegal World Cup streaming. Hundreds more have since been seized or blocked.
“The sustained effort to seize more than a thousand domains dedicated to illegally streaming the World Cup confirms the administration’s commitment to intellectual property rights,” said A. Tysen Duva, the DOJ’s assistant attorney general.
The enforcement campaign was largely coordinated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), through the NIPRCC, with support from international law enforcement agencies.
Colombian authorities said the operation also resulted in arrests. Four alleged members of a cybercrime group known as Los Ciberinfiltrados were arrested for allegedly obtaining and distributing unauthorised access to World Cup matches.
A further 830 websites operating across Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and the Dominican Republic were also taken down.
The operation extended beyond online broadcasts. Colombian police carried out nationwide search-and-seizure operations targeting counterfeit football clothing, while 11 people were reportedly arrested and convicted for the illegal manufacture and distribution of fake sporting merchandise.
The crackdown was supported by FIFA and several major media and entertainment organisations, including beIN Media Group, NBCUniversal, Ultimate Fighting Championship and Warner Bros.
Authorities and industry groups say the growing cost of sports broadcasting rights has helped drive demand for illegal streams, as fans seek cheaper ways to watch major matches across multiple platforms.
However, Charles Rivkin, chairman of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, said major global sporting events are particularly attractive targets for piracy networks because of their huge audiences.
FIFA relies heavily on the sale of broadcast rights for revenue, making the protection of official broadcasts a major priority.
The latest enforcement action reflects the growing international effort to target illegal sports streaming networks, which industry analysts say operate on an increasingly large and organised scale.
