Row over satellite suppliers' Westminster invite
A BITTER war of words has erupted between the FA Premier League and MP John Grogan over the issue of foreign satellite football.
Grogan announced last week he is to host a reception for the European Satellite Television Association (ESTA), which represents foreign satellite suppliers, at Westminster on July 12.
During the meeting ESTA members, which it claims include 800 UK pubs and clubs, will meet MPs to put forward their case for using foreign satellite systems to screen live Premiership football.
Grogan said: "This is an important area of public policy where the law needs clarification. It would be good if this matter could be tested in the European Court."
However, the FA Premier League has reacted angrily to the meeting. Chief spokesman Dan Johnson said: "It is disappointing that an elected representative seeks to further the cause of a group of people who are wilfully breaking the law and deliberately misleading publicans throughout the country about the use of illegal foreign satellite systems.
"Time and again it has been proved in court that the use of foreign satellite systems to screen Premier League football in this country is illegal and we have launched several prosecutions against the suppliers of this equipment in order to try and cut the problem off at source.
"We would gladly meet with John Grogan and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group to explain this complex matter and the difficulties he may be causing the people he claims to represent by furthering this false debate when the law is clear."
But in response Grogan said: "The Premier League should get real. What is really damaging the livelihoods of licensees is successive and excessive price increases by Sky in the cost of showing Premier League football.
"It's a bit rich the Premier League telling elected representatives that they should not be meeting with a perfectly legal organisation of licensees to debate the issues."
Colin McGee, chairman of ESTA, said: "We are very pleased to have the opportunity of coming to the Houses of Parliament."
ESTA claims that the FAPL writes copyright contracts which are contrary to the EU's Television Without Frontiers concept. It says that these contracts are the "sole basis" of any assertions made about the "illegality" in receiving non-UK satellite TV.
The issue is expected to go to the High Court later this year when Portsmouth licensee Karen Murphy contests her conviction for using a foreign satellite system. Murphy failed in a Crown Court appeal against the conviction in March.
