India's competition commission intervened over a non-compete clause
The BCCI have been fined £6million by India’s competition commission over the lucrative TV rights deal for the IPL.
The watchdog passed down its judgement on Wednesday, ruling that Indian cricket’s governing body abused its position in accepting broadcasters’ demands not to permit a rival league to be established.
The fine is payable within 60 days.
The BCCI claimed that TV companies bidding for the rights, which were sold to Star India for £1.9billion in September, had asked for a non-compete clause.
But the commission ruled against them, saying: "BCCI has not provided any justification as to how this self-imposed restriction of not organising, sanctioning, approving or supporting another T20 cricket event that will be competing with IPL, is connected to the interest of cricket.”
Instead, it said, the policy served only to "enhance the commercial interest of the bidders of broadcasting rights".
A judgement against the BCCI was first made by the competition commission in 2013, stating that the deal that was then in place - with former rights holders Sony - was illegal due to the non-compete clause.
That ruling had to be reviewed following a successful court appeal by the BCCI but it has now been enforced once more.
Furthermore, the governing body will not be allowed to put any overarching restrictions on rival professional T20 leagues.
The BCCI is yet to comment.
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