BROADCASTER Setanta last night lost the right to screen live football next season after failing to pay the Premier League £10million.
It left the sports pay-TV company one step closer to administration.
The Premier League will now sell its 46 live games for next season to the highest bidder. A decision is expected next week.
The move comes after last-ditch efforts to bail out the Irish company failed.
American tycoon Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries found Setanta had an outstanding VAT bill of up to £50million.
Administrators Deloitte could now be called in within days.
Setanta issued a statement last night saying it will “consider its options this weekend”.
It added: “In the meantime, Setanta’s sports channels continue on air.”
The broadcaster had already missed a £3million payment to the Scottish Premier League.
Setanta has around 1.2 million subscribers but it needs a reported 1.9 million to break even. Customer numbers have been hit by the recession.
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