Premier League to sue foreign satellite pubs

The Premier League is taking civil action to sue licensees for showing football using foreign satellite systems, the MA can reveal.

The Premier League (PL) said fines could be "unlimited" if they are convicted by civil action because, unlike in criminal cases, the PL can claim for damages.

The new action comes as criminal prosecutions for foreign satellite screenings are put on hold until after the High Court hearing of Portsmouth licensee Karen Murphy.

There's no limit to the amount we can sue for. It's up to us to prove the damages.​A Premier League spokesman.

She has appealed against her Crown Court prosecution for screening Premier League games using a foreign system.

A Premier League spokesman explained: "We are notifying courts that there's going to be an appeal. There's about 40 criminal cases that stay in the system and they get delayed, but it doesn't mean they are stopped.​

"We want to continue to enforce the message that it's illegal and just because we've put these cases on hold, it doesn't mean our activity is on hold."

The spokesman said the PL has written to 40 pubs threatening civil action, "a number of which have provided undertakings not to show in the future" and have given details of the cards and suppliers that they use to screen matches.

"We've definitely now got five pubs in the High Court that are going to be sued.​

"There's no limit to the amount we can sue for. It's up to us to prove the damages."

He also revealed that more football clubs are looking to ask for licence reviews of pubs that screen games via foreign systems at the start of next football season.

And the PL's crackdown is also set to be expanded across the UK - it is currently focused on England. In addition, the spokesman said there are plans to sue another supplier of foreign satellite systems.

He said the civil action applies to pubs that show games inside and outside the closed period. "We don't distinguish. It's illegal either way."