The English Football League (EFL) and the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) have initiated investigations into the unauthorized airing of their football matches within Russia. Reports indicate that a Russian streaming service, Football TV, has been broadcasting games from the opening rounds of the EFL season, as well as Scottish Premiership matches involving clubs such as Celtic, Rangers, and Hearts.

Both leagues officially suspended all broadcasting partnerships and stopped selling media rights in Russia in March 2022, following the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Because no legal agreements are currently in place, the leagues are now exploring potential legal avenues to address the unauthorized distribution of their content. The situation highlights a broader challenge for international sports organizations attempting to enforce broadcasting rights in regions where they have formally withdrawn operations due to geopolitical sanctions or policy decisions. As of now, the leagues have not provided specific details on the legal mechanisms they intend to use to stop the broadcasts, nor have they commented on whether they have successfully identified the source of the feed being used by the Russian platform.