A class action suit claiming that the NFL's exclusive DirecTV package violated antitrust law was sacked by a federal court judge Friday, who saw no evidence of conspiracy, collusion or significant harm to football fans or bars showing the games.

In a 38-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Beverly Reid O'Connell of the Central District of California upheld with prejudice the National Football League's motion to dismiss the case filed in Los Angeles federal court by a legal team led by Beth A. Wilkinson and Jonathan D. Kelley of Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz and Gregg H. Levy and Derek Ludwin of Covington & Burling. Levy argued the case for the league.

The plaintiffs in the consolidated multidistrict litigation were the bars and restaurants that ponied up thousands of dollars each year for DirecTV's “Sunday Ticket” package, which allows their customers to see not only the games airing on local broadcast television, but also the out-of-market ones. In this era of increased employment mobility and the rise of fantasy football, that become crucial for NFL fans who have interest beyond their local teams.