JEDDAH: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) condemned the pirate entity named “BeoutQ” for illegally broadcasting the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in UAE.
In a statement released on their official website Wednesday, it states: “The AFC has already instructed counsel to take legal action ... The AFC will continue to support its commercial and broadcast partners by protecting their contractual rights.”
BeoutQ first made headlines for its piracy broadcast of the FIFA World Cup in June 2018. Upon accusations from UEFA, and later in July from Wimbledon officials that BeoutQ is based in Saudi Arabia, The Saudi Ministry of Media unequivocally rejected the claim as baseless, stating that UEFA and Wimbledon were relying on the much biased “beIN Sports” as the source of these speculative allegations.
BeoutQ’s illegal piracy activity is not a regional issue but an international one, with their broadcasting boxes having been found to exist not only in the Middle East, but in North Africa and Europe as well.
More curiously though, it has also been found to be publicly broadcast in Qatar.
Saudi Arabia has continuously reiterated its tough stance on piracy and the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights. Through its Ministry of Commerce and Investment, Saudi Arabia has persistently combatted BeoutQ’s activities within the Kingdom where the Ministry of Commerce has seized thousands of set-top boxes that would otherwise be used to violate intellectual property (IP) rights.
Last year, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media said that FIFA’s measures to counter piracy of broadcasting rights would “supplement the relentless efforts by the KSA Ministry of Commerce and Investment in combatting BeoutQ’s activities and beIN’s illegal broadcasting within the country.”
Football body condemns ‘BeoutQ’ for illegally broadcasting Asian Cup
Football body condemns ‘BeoutQ’ for illegally broadcasting Asian Cup
- Saudi Arabia has continuously reiterated its tough stance on piracy and the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights
KSrelief, UN highlight key goals in 2026 humanitarian plan
- Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah meets UN Yemen coordinator for aid reviews
- German lawmakers praise KSrelief for humanitarian projects globally
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief held a briefing session at its headquarters in Riyadh on the UN’s 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview, which is a diagnosis of the support needed by communities in crisis across the world.
The session was organized in cooperation with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The session included senior officials from KSrelief and the UN, as well as representatives from Saudi government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
The participants discussed mechanisms for preparing the 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview and highlighted key differences from previous years.
The participants also addressed the need for funding in crisis-hit areas including Yemen, Sudan, Gaza, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Afghanistan.
These measures aim to strengthen focus on critical priorities, enhance the efficiency of humanitarian responses, support localization efforts, and promote work based on humanitarian principles.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor-general of KSrelief, met with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen Julien Harneis in Riyadh.
During the meeting, they discussed relief and humanitarian affairs, as well as updates on projects in Yemen. Harneis praised the efforts provided by the Kingdom through KSrelief to support communities in Yemen.
Separately, Al-Rabeeah also held a meeting with Sheikh Mohammed Belal, managing director of the UN Common Fund for Commodities, to discuss relief issues.
Belal commended Saudi Arabia for assisting those affected around the world, highlighted the center’s strong international reputation.
Meanwhile, a delegation from Germany’s parliament, headed by Alexander Radwan, a member of the nation’s foreign affairs committee, visited KSrelief’s headquarters in Riyadh.
During the visit, the German lawmakers met with several KSrelief officials to discuss relief efforts.
The German officials praised KSrelief for planning and implementing relief projects worldwide, and highlighted the agency’s reputation globally in the field.
