No fewer than fifty-five websites have been confiscated in the US for illegally live-streaming matches from the World Cup in Qatar, the United States Justice Department confirmed on Monday.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the websites were taken down after a FIFA representative identified sites being used to distribute copyright-infringing content without the official authorization of the soccer world governing body, the department said in a statement.
Presently, FIFA holds exclusive rights to the World Cup, which has reached the semi-final stage.
‘While many may believe that such websites do not constitute serious threats, the infringement upon rights holders of any intellectual property is a growing threat to our economic viability,’ said special agent James Harris of the Homeland Security Department.
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‘The impact can be felt across multiple industries, and it can be the conduit to other forms of criminal activity,’ Harris said.
The Justice Department did not identify the seized websites but said visitors to the sites would be redirected to another site for additional information.
Meanwhile, having already sent one South American behemoth home from the World Cup, Croatia will be aiming to reach back-to-back finals when they lock horns with Argentina in Tuesday’s semi-final at Lusail Iconic Stadium.
The penalty prowess of both sides settled nervy quarter-final contests, as Zlatko Dalic’s men dumped Brazil out on spot kicks a few hours before La Albiceleste beat the Netherlands from 12 yards.
If there was one game to characterize the chaotic, feisty and unpredictable nature of the 2022 World Cup, Argentina’s quarter-final with the Netherlands followed the script to a tee.
Argentina have never been eliminated from the World Cup in the final four and have progressed to the final every time that they have got this far – the fifth and most recent of which came in the 2014 tournament before their heartbreaking defeat to Germany.