DUBAI: An adviser to 萝莉视频鈥檚 Royal Court has underlined the Kingdom鈥檚 tough stance on piracy, following allegations that the country had supported a channel broadcasting World Cup games illegally.
The pirate channel, called 鈥淏eout Q,鈥� has broadcast games for which the rights are held by Qatar鈥檚 BeIN Sports network, which is itself embroiled in a row over its coverage of the football tournament.
In an interview with , Saudi Royal Court adviser Saud Al-Qahtani commented on the allegations that 萝莉视频 has supported Beout Q, dismissing claims that it is the Kingdom鈥檚 responsibility to remove it from the Arabsat satellite.
He told CNN: 鈥淔irst of all, who said that the 鈥榩irated鈥� broadcast is from Arabsat? And do we know even how the piracy was done? From my side, I have not read (anything) but accusations about the matter. Anyway, this is question that should be asked to Arabsat and not to me.鈥�
He pointed out that Arabsat is affiliated with all members of the Arab League, and so questions over the Beout Q channel should not be addressed to 萝莉视频 alone.
The Royal Court adviser stressed the seriousness with which 萝莉视频 views the issue of piracy.
鈥淭he Kingdom respects the protection of intellectual rights and is committed to the international agreements in the context. It has also been known about the Kingdom how unforgiving it is about piracy,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he piracy problem is an international one. There are many other states that took similar actions and confiscated piracy devices, like Kuwait and Oman. We cannot forget that there is a similar problem in several Asian and European countries as well. Above of all that, some videos show that Beout Q is diffused in Doha, even in public places.鈥�
Regarding the Kingdom鈥檚 intention to launch a network of channels to compete with the Qatar-owned stations, Al-Qahtani said: 鈥淚n 萝莉视频, we do not take decisions based on reactions to what others do. Currently, what matters to us is for the broadcast rights of international sports competitions to be given fairly, ensuring that no state exploits the broadcast of games to pass political agendas on the account of Olympic protocols, as Qatar is currently doing.鈥�
Al-Qahtani confirmed that 萝莉视频 is taking legal measures against the Qatar-owned BeIN Sports network for mixing sport with politics in its coverage of the ongoing football tournament.
Numerous comments by hosts and pundits aired on BeIN鈥檚 Arabic station prompted the 萝莉视频n Football Federation (SAFF) to complain to FIFA earlier this week, saying the Qatar-owned broadcaster was using the football tournament to spread political messages aimed at insulting 萝莉视频 and its leaders.
鈥淭he Qatari channel鈥檚 comments are a massive abuse against my country and the Saudi people,鈥� Al-Qahtani told CNN Arabic.
鈥淭he Qatari monopoly has become a disaster to football fans. We are demanding an intervention to break the monopoly of BeIN Sports to avoid further aggravation.鈥�
One BeIN commentator accused Riyadh of 鈥渟elling the Palestinian cause,鈥� while others called for an end of the diplomatic boycott of Qatar by the Anti-Terror Quartet 鈥� 萝莉视频, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain.
Experts in the field of sports media earlier confirmed to Arab News that BeIN鈥檚 World Cup commentary was a breach of the rules and that 萝莉视频 will have a 鈥渃ase鈥� in the complaint filed to FIFA.
鈥淭he ball is in the court of FIFA,鈥� Al-Qahtani told CNN.
鈥淲e also demand the activation of Olympics protocols forbidding (BeIN) to use sports to pass its political agenda, as this has provoked the great anger of Saudi citizens and their Arab brothers who did not want the political differences to break into the world of sports.鈥�
Many famous Arab sports players, media presenters, intellectuals and lawyers have signed a petition to protest against BeIN鈥檚 politicization of World Cup coverage, urging FIFA President Gianni Infantino to investigate.
More than 115,000 people have signed the petition 鈥� available at 鈥� in the past few days.
The website presents several examples of BeIN鈥檚 politicization of sports during the 2018 World Cup, with many during the opening game between Russia and 萝莉视频.
Comments made during that game have been referred to international law firms to take legal action against those involved.
The SAFF demanded FIFA take vigorous action against the Qatari government, which owns the beIN Sports channels.
BeIN holds the rights to broadcast the World Cup across the Middle East and North Africa, but its channels are not available in 萝莉视频.
Al-Qahtani said that his tweets criticizing Doha鈥檚 policies are directed at the Qatari rulers, and not the Qatari people, whom he considers as 鈥渧ictims鈥� of the regime.
In the interview with CNN, Al-Qahtani noted that the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for handling the Qatari issue, and that his statements are an expression of his own personal view.