UEFA becomes first sports body to join anti-piracy body ACE

Led by the Motion Picture Association (MPA), ACE brings together over 50 major entertainment companies, streamers, and studios in a coordinated bid to combat piracy that threatens the integrity of the digital ecosystem.

Working with law enforcement and other partners, ACE pursues actions that dismantle illegal operations worldwide. It has been engaged in a decades-long fight against piracy, including the growing threat of illegal streaming of sports events.

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will play an active role in the Live Tier of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the department that coordinates efforts to target sports piracy operations.

“UEFA joining ACE represents a landmark moment in our global content protection strategy,” said Guy-Laurent Epstein, Executive Director of Marketing at UEFA. “This partnership allows us to expand our enforcement capabilities, deepen our existing collaboration with industry leaders and leverage ACE’s proven capabilities to disrupt illegal services.”

“With UEFA joining the world’s largest anti-piracy coalition, we are strengthening our fight to detect, deter, and dismantle online piracy everywhere,” added Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association and Chairman of ACE. “UEFA’s membership bolsters ACE’s ability to defend sports content from nefarious players in real time – and amplifies the reach of our efforts to protect football fans and broadcasters across the globe.”

At IBC2025, a panel of security experts warned that illegal streaming is accelerating in scale, sophistication, and impact. Discover more here.