Almost one in five people in Luxembourg have watched sport on illegal streams, an EU study has found, as the month-long Euro 2024 football tournament gets underway.
Luxembourg ranked fifth-highest among the EU’s 27 countries for the share of viewers – 18% – who admitted having accessed or streamed sports content from illegal sources in the past 12 months, according to the report published by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on Wednesday.
The Grand Duchy’s total was well above the EU average of 12% and was surpassed only by Bulgaria, Greece, Spain and Ireland.
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Among young viewers aged 15 to 24, the share was even higher in Luxembourg, where 28% said they had illegally accessed sports content in the last year, marginally ahead of the EU average.
Manufacturers of sports equipment in Luxembourg lose almost €1.3 million annually through the sale of counterfeit goods, the study found, amounting to almost 8% of yearly sales in the sector.
6% of young people in Luxembourg said they had intentionally purchased fake sports goods online, below the EU average of 10%.
The study came as EUIPO launched its “Play Fair” campaign, urging fans to only buy authorised merchandise and watch official broadcasts, ahead of a major summer of sport with both the Euro 2024 tournament and the Olympic Games coming up.
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Despite many of the major sporting events being shown on free-to-air television across Europe, illegal streaming is still a feature during those competitions, EUIPO said. “Even in the case of events broadcast on free channels, such as the Olympics or the final rounds of the Uefa championships, online piracy persists,” the office said in a press release.
“As we enjoy the thrill of competition this summer, it’s crucial to play fair, both for players on the field as well as for spectators at home,” said João Negrão, the executive director of EUIPO. “By watching official broadcasts and buying licensed products, we ensure our beloved sports continue to thrive for generations to come.”
(This article was originally published by Virgule. Translation, editing and additional reporting by John Monaghan)