Man Utd used foreign satellite cards

Manchester United football club was named today as having used foreign satellite football systems to view football matches.

The claim came at a landmark legal battle between the Premier League (PL) and satellite suppliers QC Leisure and AV Station.

Under cross-examination by Martin Howe QC, Oliver Weingarten, in-house solicitor for PL, admitted that some major clubs had used them as well as licensees.

Manchester United were named as one of five clubs, which had used them.

When asked if it was right that most Premier League Clubs had used them though Weingarten said it was not.

Weingarten said they were acquired by junior members of their "scouting"​ teams but stressed that once the clubs had been approached by the PL and told that their use was considered unlawful they had stopped.

He accepted that the purpose of the use made of them - to scout for players - was, if the cards were lawful, a legitimate purpose.

But he made it clear that he regarded it as unlawful because he did not consider the cards could be lawfully used in the UK.

He was also asked about an interview which was published in which Greek midfielder, Stelios Giannakopoulos, who plays for Bolton Wanderers, had said he kept in touch with Greek football on television.

Weingarten said that if he had been using a foreign card, such as the ones from Greece, then he considered that he would have been acting unlawfully even though it was understandable he would want to watch Greek television from this country.

Licensee anger​

The High Court also heard that the use of foreign satellite decoder cards by licensees had turned pub against pub.

James Mellor QC, for the PL, said the PL had received complaints from licensees that their trade was being hit by competitors who were screening matches on the cheap using the foreign cards and equipment.

The Premier League is seeking a ban on importing, selling, hiring, advertising, installing and maintaining decoders.

The hearing continues.