A high Court judge has ruled that a foreign broadcaster must pay more than £150m to the Premier League.
The ruling comes after a dispute between the Premier League and PPLive Sports International, which is based in Hong Kong.
PPLive signed a deal with the Premier League to show both live and delayed football matches and game highlights across China. The deal was set to run for three seasons starting in 20199-220.
But Premier League bosses terminated the agreement in September 2020 and said they were owed two instalments from PPLive that totalled nearly £157m.
Mr Justice Fraser, who is based in London, has now ruled in the Premier League's favour.
He said that the Premier League was entitled to a "summary judgement" - one without a trial - because PPLive had "no real prospect" of defending the claim.
He added that “none of the defences advanced” by PPLive had anything other than ”fanciful prospects of success”.
After the ruling, a Premier League spokesman said: “The Premier League welcomes the judgment handed down by the High Court today relating to non-payment of fees by PPLive, its former broadcast partner in China.
“The Premier League will robustly enforce its contractual rights when it has no other option available.
“The League notes the judge’s view that PPLive had ‘no real prospect of success’ defending the claim.
“The bar is high for a summary judgment application and this decision highlights the strength of the League’s case.
“The League will now begin the process of recovering the fees and costs owed by PPLive.”
