Fox UK offices raided by EU antitrust regulators over sports-media rights

Fox Network Group’s UK offices were raided by officials from the European Commission as part of an investigation into the potential domination in and abuse of sports-media distribution rights.

Brussels suspects that the broadcaster's unit "may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices."

The European Commission said in a statement that inspections were carried out in several EU countries in companies that are related to sports broadcasting.

"The Commission has concerns that the companies involved may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices (Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union). The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities.

"Unannounced inspections are a preliminary step into suspected anti-competitive practices. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself. The Commission respects the rights of defence, in particular the right of companies to be heard in antitrust proceedings," the statement read.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the officials are set to stay through Wednesday and Thursday in the Fox Networks Group’s offices.

The raid catches the company in the middle of a drawn-out takeover battle for the 61% of Sky it does not already own.

Faced by potential opposition from the Competition and Markets Authority, due to Fox's already prominent position in UK media, via its ownership of The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times, on 10 April the company controlled by Rupert Murdoch offered two potential remedies, one of which included selling Sky's news channel.