The Premier League have terminated their agreement for games to broadcast in China with its rights holder partner PPTV.
The decision comes off the back of reports that the Premier League were locked in a legal dispute with their Chinese broadcast partners.
It was claimed last month that rights holders Suning Holdings, who own PPTV, had withheld a payment of £160million that was due in March.
On Thursday the Premier League confirmed they had severed all ties with the broadcaster in China, announcing the news in a short statement.
“The Premier League confirms that it has today terminated its agreements for Premier League coverage in China with its licensee in that territory,” read the statement.
“The Premier League will not be commenting further on the matter at this stage.”
The broadcasting deal with Suning Holdings is believed to be the Premier League’s biggest overseas TV contract.
Suning had agreed a three-year deal with the Premier League, running from 2019 to the end of the 2022 season, but that has been stopped with immediate effect.
The deal was reported to be worth around £500m and is a blow to the finances of Premier League clubs.
Top-flight sides have already been hit hard financially by the Covid-19 pandemic and this is another blow to them.
