EU OKs English Premier League live rights auction

BRUSSELS, June 14 (Reuters) The English Premier League respected its competition undertakings to the European Commission when it auctioned broadcasting rights to live soccer matches, the EU executive said today.

EU competition spokesman Jonathan Todd said an independent trustee had confirmed to the Commission that the three auctions held so far met the terms set by Brussels after months of negotiations, but he noted more auctions were still to come.

''On the basis of a report by an independent trustee, we have concluded that the auction of the live match rights was conducted in accordance with the undertaking given by the Premier League and made legally binding,'' Todd told a briefing.

REUTERS PM KP1559