US Take Down 55 Websites for Livestreaming World Cup Matches Illegally

The US Justice Department announced Monday that 55 websites had been seized for illegally live-streaming World Cup matches from Qatar.

The websites were taken down after a FIFA representative identified them as being used to distribute copyright-infringing content without the permission of the soccer world governing body, according to a statement from the department.

FIFA owns the World Cup, which has progressed to the semi-final stage. While many people believe that such websites pose no serious threats, “infringement on intellectual property rights holders is a growing threat to our economic viability,” said Homeland Security Department special agent James Harris.

The Justice Department did not identify the seized websites, but said visitors would be redirected to another site.