Competition Commission Orders Probe Against BCCI for Unfair Business Practice

The Competition Commission has given an order for a detailed probe against the richest governing body Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The order has been given for the alleged abuse of the dominant position of the board. Simultaneously, its further regarding an organizing of domestic Twenty20 leagues all across the country.

The order was granted after a complaint filed by the Pan India Infraprojects Pvt Ltd. It was formerly known as the Essel Sports Pvt Ltd.

The CCI in a 14-page order stated that there is a “prima-facie”. It is a case of abuse of a dominant position which is held by BCCI.

Subsequently, it is learnt that they have violated the competition norms.

“Thus, it appears that BCCI has abused its dominant position in the market of the organisation of professional domestic cricket leagues in India. It was possible after excluding the informant (Pan India Infraprojects) or any of its group companies from participating in tenders for media rights for IPL,” the order said.

The order also stated they restricted the organization from organizing a competitive league (ICL) by Pan India Infraprojects.

The BCCI has excluded it from the market. They have stopped them from allowing them to bid for the Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights, for this year.

However, it was not the first time that the Board has come under the scanner of the trade regulator.

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BCCI has taken advantage of the situation: 

“The sports federations engaged in the organisation of tournaments leagues are put to advantage if they also possess the authority to grant approval for an organisation of similar events by others and set conditions for such organisation,” the order stated.

 

“BCCI seems to have taken advantage of such a situation,” the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said. It was noted in the order which was signed on June 1. During the preliminary conference on May 2, 2018, the informant highlighted that the BCCI is continuing with such restriction as a similar/ identical clause is still present in the tenders issued by the BCCI IPL media rights (2018-2022) “whereby the informant and its group companies have been foreclosed from participating in any media rights tenders issued by the BCCI,” the order said.

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