November 3: A federal judge in New York has ordered the arrest of Manuel Arroyo, chairman of Mexican media company Grupo Lauman, if he enters the United States, in the latest escalation in the company’s dispute with Fox Corporation over the Fox Sports brand in Mexico.
The order, signed by Judge Jed Rakoff on Oct. 25, states that if Arroyo “is found within the jurisdiction of the United States, he should be immediately arrested and detained until he complies with the court orders of September 5 and 19, 2025.” The US Marshals Service is responsible for carrying this out.
Grupo Lauman bought the Fox Sports Mexico business from Disney five years ago. Since 2023, it has been in dispute with Fox Corporation, the original owner of the brand, over alleged missed contract payments and unauthorized use of the Fox Sports name.
Rakoff ordered a global freeze on assets linked to Grupo Lauman subsidiaries in 2023 and fined the company for contempt. A subsequent investigation found that a company called Mexico Sports Distribution (MSD) had made more than $12 million in unauthorized transfers on behalf of Grupo Lauman, in violation of court orders.
The judge concluded that Arroyo was personally involved in diverting the money through MSD and has now held him in contempt individually. The arrest warrant remains in place until he complies with last year’s orders to return the funds.
Sanctions and fines against Arroyo, Grupo Lauman and MSD now total more than $70 million. According to court documents, the dispute has also resulted in unpaid rights fees owed to Mexican media operators and sports rights holders.
The case has wider implications for Mexican soccer. Fox Sports Mexico has been a major buyer of Liga MX and other rights, and unpaid fees are putting pressure on clubs and leagues that depend on that revenue.
