Pubs around the country have breathed a huge sigh of relief after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled the football World Cup and European Championships will remain on TV for free.
Football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA had challenged the Government's protection of the event as free-to-watch in the ECJ.
They argued that games featuring the home nations, plus the semi-finals and finals would have remained free-to-air but the rest of the games could be sold on to pay TV broadcasters, such as Sky.
But the ECJ ruled that EU member states can prohibit the exclusive broadcast of games at the two football events on pay TV.
FIFA and UEFA have two months to appeal.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "We welcome the EU decision and continue to support the principle of protecting events for free-to-air coverage."
The Government currently ring-fences certain sporting jewels such as the World Cup, Olympics and Wimbledon.
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