Brussels, 23/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the Commission decided to make commitments from the Football Association Premier League (FAPL) on the sale of media rights to the Premier League football competition legally binding. The case concerned the agreement between the clubs in the English Premier League to sell media rights jointly through the FAPL. In December 2002 the Commission sent a Statement of Objections to the FAPL, raising concerns that the implementation of the joint selling agreement deprived media operators and British football fans of choice, led to higher prices and reduced innovation. After seeking clarification from the FAPL, the Commission noted that the commitments specified the precise terms of the rule requiring that there would be no single buyer and the conduct of the auction process (see EUROPE 9071). Live broadcasting rights will be sold in six packages and no one buyer will be allowed to purchase more than five. Rights are for broadcasting via television, mobile phone and the Internet. From 2007 onwards, these rights will be sold in an open and competitive biding process subject to scrutiny by an independent Trustee. If the FAPL were to break the terms of the decision, which runs until 20 June 2013, the Commission could impose a fine amounting to 10% of the FAPL's total worldwide turnover.