UK offices of Murdoch's 21st Century Fox raided as EU probes sports broadcasting 'cartel'

European Commission carries unannounced inspections of companies across continent amid investigation into 'suspected anti-competitive practices'

The European Commission has raided 21st Century Fox offices in London (Reuters)

The London offices of Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Networks have been raided by the European Commission as part of a continent-wide investigation into a possible sports broadcasting cartel.

Officials carried out “unannounced inspections” of companies in several countries over concerns the firms “may have violated EU antitrust rules”, the commission said.

Fox Networks Group (FNG), an operating unit of 21st Century Fox which distributes TV and cable channels around the world, said it was co-operating with the investigation after its offices in Hammersmith, west London, were raided.

The commission said the inspections were “a preliminary step into suspected anti-competitive practices”.

In a statement, it added: “The fact that the commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself.

“The commission respects the rights of defence, in particular the right of companies to be heard in antitrust proceedings.”

There is no legal deadline for the completion of the probe and European Commission investigations can be lengthy.

A spokesman for Fox Networks Group" said the company was "cooperating fully with the EC inspection.”

Sports broadcasting is a huge business in Europe, with networks spending billions of pounds to secure exclusive rights to show games in top-flight leagues to attract viewers.

The news of the raid comes at a difficult time for Fox, which is engaged in string of deals that are facing regulatory approval.

It is battling Comcast and British regulators for the right to complete a £10.7bn takeover of Sky, a purchase the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority said in January was “not in the public interest”

Fox has also agreed to sell a string of assets to Walt Disney Co for around £37bn.