The case, filed by the Egyptian Competition Authority in October 2017, came after the Qatari broadcaster switched satellite providers from Egypt's Nilesat to Qatar's Es'hailSat last year.

The authority said the switch harmed competition in the market. Additionally, beIN's Egyptian subscribers had to connect new satellite dishes at their own expense to view its premium sports content - such as the Africa Cup of Nations - on Es'hail instead of on Nilesat.

The authority claimed beIN's pay-TV subscription packages also breached Egyptian competition rules as viewers were required to pay for events or channels they might not want.

Among other sporting events, beIN Media holds the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) television rights for all major FIFA, CAF and UEFA football tournaments in Africa and Europe, as well as top flight European league football.

"The decision of the Economic Court came to stop the harmful practices committed by beIN Sports against the Egyptian football fans," said Muna Al-Jarf, chairman of the Competition Protection Authority.

beIN Media's CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who was cited in the Egyptian case, is also under investigation in Switzerland with former FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke, over suspected bribery, criminal mismanagement and forgery of a document in connection to the award of World Cup broadcast rights.

The Qatari media group refutes the allegations by the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG).