LaLiga's IP blocking during matches disrupts thousands of Spanish websites and services

When LaLiga’s season begins, the league, led by its employers' association, orders Spanish internet providers to block hundreds of IP addresses it identifies as linked to pirate streams. The blocks start shortly before kick-off and are lifted after the broadcast ends, but because many websites and services share the same IP, the action disables a wide range of unrelated content. OONI data indicate that between 500 and 1,000 IPs are blocked per match, with more than 7,000 addresses blocked in the first half of 2026, affecting over 554,000 legitimate domains, especially those hosted by Cloudflare.

Victims have included payment gateways, online retailers, academic sites, and AI model repositories. Critics argue the method breaches net neutrality and causes billions of euros in indirect losses, while LaLiga defends it as a response to estimated annual piracy losses of 600-700 million euros. The legal framework stems from a 2024 Barcelona court ruling, set to expire in June 2027, with potential legislative reforms under discussion.