FA to target pub satellite suppliers

The FA Premier League says it will go after foreign satellite suppliers in its bid to cut out closed-period screening of Premiership football.

Dan Johnson, spokesman for the Premier League, said they would target foreign satellite suppliers because licensees were being given wrong information by them.

He said: "We're looking to take action against the suppliers, because quite often the publicans unwittingly buy these satellite systems and install them and basically it is illegal."​

Johnson was speaking on a BBC Radio programme which highlighted the issue of foreign satellite viewing in pubs.

The programme also spoke to Paul Dixon the laywer who represented Brian Gannon​ in a case first reported on morningadvertiser.co.uk

Gannon, a former Rochdale licensee, won an appeal against a conviction for showing closed-period football on a foreign satellite.

Dixon said he believes many more licensees will successfully prove that what they are doing is legal.

It's significant that the Premier League have not appealed the Gannon case up to the divisional court in London.​Paul Dixon, media laywer.

He said: "Many of these cases are coming to trial in the next few months. We have cases in Portsmouth, in London, in Surrey, Wigan, Liverpool, Manchester.​

"We're expecting the cases to be successful. It's significant that the Premier League have not appealed the Gannon case up to the divisional court in London."

The jury appears to still be out on the legality of screening these matches and the Premier League is threatening to prosecute every licensee who shows them.

Morning Advertiser legal expert Peter Coulson also believes that showing them is against the copyright laws of this country.

What is going on with foreign satellite football? Tell us (anonymously) if you show it or if you have been offered it. Do you feel the current set up is too expensive or should everyone just play by the rules? Email us by clicking this link​

Your Comments​Paul Marshall​ via email 04/05/2006"When we first took this pub 40 months ago we did go down the road and installed a foreign satellite system. I must admit, at the time we did not realise that we were bordering on breaking the law, even though, we never screened through the closed period. After many sleepness nights we installed SKY Commercial, it costs £600 a month but at least we dont have to look over our shoulder all the time. It is overpriced but what value do you place on keeping your Personal Licence, your clean record and above, as a licensee, still a pillar of the community, the respect from your customers."