Italian Football Against Audiovisual Piracy

SERIE A ENILIVE, SERIE BKT and SERIE C SKY WIFI join forces to tackle a scourge putting 12,000 jobs at risk

A united and committed front to defend the future of Italian sport. On the occasion of this weekend's matches, professional football is joining forces, with Lega Serie A, Lega Serie B and Lega Pro launching the joint awareness campaign against audiovisual piracy, #STOPIRACY.

Illegal streaming and IPTV are not only offences punishable by law with criminal and financial penalties, but also represent a serious socio-economic scourge affecting the entire country. According to the latest FAPAV/Ipsos data, the economic activity diverted by illegal practices causes an estimated overall loss of €2.3 billion to the Italian economy, directly putting more than 12,000 jobs at risk, including those of technicians, media operators, club employees and workers across the wider sports industry.

On-Pitch and TV Initiatives
Throughout the weekend of the opening matchday, Serie BKT stadiums will also become a platform for promoting this message of legality:

• Big screens: Before kick-off and during half-time, the campaign's official video will be shown to raise awareness among fans of the risks associated with cybercrime and the importance of protecting their personal data.
• Video spot: A joint awareness-raising video from the three leagues will be broadcast during the television coverage of the matches.
• Digital campaign: The official social media channels of the three leagues and their affiliated clubs will promote a viral campaign using the hashtag #STOPIRACY.

Paolo Bedin's Statement: "Serie A, B and C are joining forces to fight a battle that concerns not only clubs and football institutions, but also the fans," said Lega Serie B President Paolo Bedin. "Those who consume pirated content often believe it is an action without consequences, but the reality is very different: it provides funding to criminal organisations, exposes devices to the risk of intrusion, puts credit cards at risk of being cloned, and undermines the value of our football and the job security of thousands of families working behind the scenes of the sports system. We thank the authorities, Agcom and the Guardia di Finanza for their ongoing efforts to shut down illegal services, but the first and most important line of defence must come from the awareness of every single fan, who must play their part in protecting football."