November 12 – The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) has issued a stern warning to all media representatives and accredited photojournalists, notifying them of strict enforcement of UEFA regulations regarding unauthorized video recording and live broadcasting during matches.
The directive follows official instructions from UEFA, which recorded several instances during recent matches where non-rights-holding media personnel and photographers recorded video content from inside stadiums and shared it on social media in real-time or during active play. UEFA stressed that these actions constitute a serious violation of television broadcasting rights, directly threatening the commercial interests of the official television partners who have the exclusive rights to UEFA competitions, European qualifiers and international friendlies. Consequently, national associations have been instructed to increase oversight and ensure strict compliance, with a mandate to prevent and report any violations that cannot be stopped immediately on the spot.
According to current regulations, media representatives and non-rights photojournalists are strictly prohibited from making unauthorized video recordings from inside the stadium. Additionally, the posting of unauthorized match video content to social media platforms (specifically live posts, in-game coverage or near-real-time updates) is strictly prohibited. Any infringements observed will be dealt with by the relevant authorities in accordance with UEFA rules, and incidents that cannot be resolved promptly will be formally reported to UEFA for further disciplinary action.
The FSS, in collaboration with UEFA and stadium security, will implement more intensive controls during the upcoming matches, focusing mainly on monitoring journalists and photographers who do not have rights. The Association stressed that media accreditation does not grant the automatic right to record and distribute video content without explicit authorization, and urged all professionals to demonstrate full responsibility and strictly comply with regulations to protect official broadcasters and maintain good match organization in accordance with UEFA standards.
Contact the writer of this story, Alexander Krassimirov, at (email protected)