Parliament Greenlights Landmark Legislation: Football Clubs Granted Broadcast and Multimedia Rights
In a significant move to bolster the financial health and professional management of the country’s football industry, the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) has passed a pivotal law. This legislation, embedded within the Comprehensive Club Governance Bill, formally recognizes football clubs as the primary beneficiaries of all broadcasting and multimedia rights derived from their matches and official events.
After years of advocacy from the sports community, lawmakers have approved a legal framework that mandates the allocation of television broadcast revenue directly to the clubs. This development marks a transformative step towards creating sustainable revenue streams and enhancing the clubs’ economic self-sufficiency.
A New Era for Club Revenue
Mr. Ehsan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, a member of parliament, elaborated on the groundbreaking nature of the decision. He stated that previously, broadcast rights were viewed largely on a macro, national level with funds allocated in the state budget for national team matches. The new law, however, shifts the focus, ensuring that individual clubs are the direct stakeholders.
“The clubs are the main beneficiaries of all rights arising from the holding of matches and other official club events,” Ghazizadeh Hashemi explained. “These rights include all types of financial and moral benefits, audio and visual rights, radio recording, television production and broadcast rights, multimedia rights, and the exploitation of logos. Any entity wishing to utilize these rights must now reach an agreement with the club owners.”
Beyond Broadcasting: A Multimedia Mandate
The legislation’s scope extends far beyond traditional television. For the first time, it enshrines the clubs’ multimedia rights into law. This encompasses the commercial use of a club’s name, logo, and branding across digital platforms and all multimedia activities, providing a comprehensive protection of their intellectual and material property.
“The inclusion of multimedia rights ensures the clubs’ moral and material ownership rights are fully recognized,” the parliamentarian added.
Path to Implementation
Following its approval by Parliament, the legislation will be sent to the Guardian Council for final constitutional review. Once it becomes law, a clear implementation process will begin. The National Broadcasting Service (IRIB), the Ministry of Sports, and the Planning and Budget Organization are tasked with drafting detailed bylaws for the television rights allocation. These bylaws will be presented to the cabinet for approval.
Concurrently, the Ministry of Sports, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, will have three months to prepare and secure cabinet approval for a separate set of bylaws governing the distribution of multimedia rights and financial benefits.
A Performance-Based Model
The revenue distribution model is designed to reward success and popularity. Mr. Ghazizadeh Hashemi clarified that a stronger, more prominent club will consequently generate higher income, with the financial value of their rights determined accordingly. This performance-based model is intended to incentivize sporting excellence and improved management.
While an exact timeline for the first revenue disbursements is dependent on the legislative and bureaucratic process, there is strong optimism within Parliament that the necessary executive requirements will be fulfilled swiftly, paving the way for clubs to benefit from these new rights at the earliest possible opportunity. This legislative action is widely seen as a proactive measure to modernize the sports industry and place football clubs on a more stable and prosperous footing.
