By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
The European Court of Justice has ruled that UK football fans can continue to watch major events on free-to-air TV in future.
Fifa and Uefa had challenged a decision allowing the UK government to designate the World Cup and European Championships as free-to-watch events.
Both are on the UK list of "protected" events of national sporting importance.
The ECJ now says an EU member state can prohibit the exclusive broadcast of games at these two events on pay-TV.
Fifa and Uefa had argued the current set-up interfered with their ability to sell television rights at the best price.
They had said there was no reason why all games at tournaments should be shown free on British television, as part of a list the national sporting "crown jewels" that have to be made available to everyone to watch.
But the EU has now said that the present way that games are shown in the UK - with the whole of the World Cup and European Championships on free-to-air - can continue.