Leagues and governing bodies condemn beoutQ TV piracy

FILE PHOTO: World Cup 2018 final match, being pirated by beoutQ as seen at beIN Media Group's anti-piracy lab in Doha, Qatar, in this undated handout image, obtained by Reuters on December 18, 2018. beIN Media Group/Handout via REUTERS

LONDON (Reuters) - International soccer bodies and some of Europe's leading leagues issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning pirate television channel beoutQ and vowing to defend their intellectual property rights.

Soccer bodies are pursuing legal action in Saudi Arabia against "beoutQ" which they say has broadcast content whose exclusive TV rights in the Middle East belong to Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Sport.