The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) has invited bids for media rights in the UAE for its matches from 2021 to 2024.

The UAE rights are currently held by beIN Sports but that deal expires at the end of 2020 and the AFC are now looking for new bidders.

Qatari broadcaster beIN snapped up a 10-year deal for AFC rights in 2011 but have failed to agree a new pan-regional deal with Asian football’s governing body.

Relations between the two became strained earlier this year after beIN Sports’ exclusive rights deal in Saudi Arabia was ended and the AFC issued an invitation to tender in the Kingdom for the 2021-2024 rights.

beIN Sports has also been unhappy about the handling of the beoutQ piracy saga, which has seen a large amount of its content illegally appear in Saudi Arabia.  

The new rights deal include the 2023 Asian Cup, the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the AFC Champions League, the AFC Cup and age-level competitions and futsal tournaments.

Asian qualifying matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which takes place in Qatar, are also included in the package.