Foreign satellite football case goes to Europe

The issue of foreign satellite football will now be heard in the courts of Europe, it was ruled today.

In the High Court test case involving two suppliers of the equipment - QC Leisure and AV Station - and the Premier League, the judge decided to refer the matter to Europe.

In a short hearing today, Mr Justice Kitchen said: "It's appropriate to make a referral to the European Court of Justice."

The Premier League brought civil action against QC Leisure and AV Station in a bid to force a ban on decoder cards being imported and claim damages for copyright infringement.

In his written judgement, following a 13-day trial, Mr Justice Kitchen said: "I believe the issues which I have identified and upon which the assistance of the Court of Justice is sought are so fundamental that they should be considered as a whole by the Court at the earliest opportunity."

However the legal teams are set to meet once more on July 9 for submissions on two further points before the case is heard in Europe.

Paul Dixon, of legal firm Molesworths Bright Clegg, who led the team representing AV Station said he was "delighted" the judge had decided to refer the matter to Europe.

"The importance of this test case cannot be overstated," he said. "From the outset we have asserted that the issues which we have raised in relation to EC competition and free movement laws should be considered by the European Court of Justice."

A spokesman for the Premier League said: "The Premier League respects the right of Mr Justice Kitchen to refer to the European Court of Justice and are encouraged to see the court has accepted the strength and substance of our arguments.

"Our stance on the illegal supply and use of foreign satellite equipment to broadcast Barclays Premier League football has been unequivocal and we relish the opportunity for a definitive ruling at the highest possible level, in order to end the confusion we know this issue causes in the licensed trade."