Licensees face crackdown on illegal football screenings

Between 1,000 and 2,000 licensees planning to illegally screen Saturday afternoon Premiership football this season could face fines and imprisonment in a fresh crackdown by the FA Premier League.

With the big kick-off only a week away, a team of 20 agents around the country are preparing to pounce on pubs using imported top-box decoders to show foreign satellite TV coverage of top English games.

The FA does not authorise the broadcasting of live Premiership matches in the UK between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays in order to keep up attendance at the grounds.

Licensees who pay the Sky Sports subscription to show games outside that time have also complained that the illegal broadcasts unfairly steal their trade.

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) is working with the FA to tackle the growing problem which now affects most of the country.

According to FACT a number of prosecutions of licensees are imminent following a campaign at the tail-end of the 2002/3 season.

The agency estimates that between six and 10 companies - one of which is currently being prosecuted - are importing decoders from the continent and selling them on to licensees for around £1,500 apiece, about a tenth of an average annual Sky subscription.

It believes that between 1,000 and 2,000 will be in pubs for the new season as publicans try to dodge rising Sky fees and attract football fans.

Licensees caught showing Saturday afternoon games during the closed period will receive an initial warning and if they continue will be prosecuted with a maximum penalty of £5,000 and/or six months imprisonment.