Desmond to challenge legality of BSkyB deal

BUSINESSMAN Dermot Desmond is to launch a legal challenge to the £1 billion TV deal for the right to broadcast English premiership football games.

Mr Desmond is reported to be mounting a court case against last Friday’s record deal which saw the English Premier League award the rights to all of this season’s matches to BSkyB.

His threat to derail the money-spinning deal will be pursued through the British and European courts under anti-competition legislation, according to a newspaper report yesterday.