Illegal streamer shut down after defrauding La Liga, Movistar of over €42M

Spanish authorities said Friday they had shut down the country's biggest illegal streaming platform Cristal Azul, which had been offering La Liga and second division football matches online for free.

"More than 78,000 community members... were benefiting from the broadcasting, defrauding two well-known Spanish companies of more than 42 million euros ($44.4 million)," said Spain's Guardia Civil, a national law enforcement agency, in a statement.

The operation began following a complaint filed jointly by La Liga and broadcaster Movistar, and finished with the identification of the alleged perpetrator, a 37-year-old man, now under investigation.

The operation is a victory for La Liga president Javier Tebas in his battle with illegal streaming, which he considers to be "theft" that could drive football "into bankruptcy".