UEFA and media giants to "intervene" in EU foreign satellite cases

UEFA and four major media companies could get involved in the European test case showdown on foreign satellite football - now likely to be heard around June or July next year.

The European football body has lodged an application with the European Court of Justice to intervene in the case against two suppliers of foreign satellite equipment, according to the solicitor acting for one of the suppliers.

Meanwhile Sky, Setanta, Canal + and the Motion Picture Association are believed to be in the process of lodging an application with the court to also have their say in the case.

The case against suppliers QC Leisure and AV Station was referred to the European Court in July by the High Court in London.

Portsmouth licensee Karen Murphy, who is appealing a conviction for showing foreign satellite football using a Greek Nova card, will have her case heard at the same time.

At a House of Commons meeting hosted by John Grogan MP yesterday, Paul Dixon, of legal firm Molesworths, Bright, Clegg, who represents Murphy and AV Station, revealed the five other parties were "applying to intervene in our proceedings so they can have their 30 minutes of fame, because it's not just about sports rights."

In relation to the timing of the European case, he said: "We hope to be there around June and July next year."

Nick Bish and Kate Nicholls of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers also addressed the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group meeting, looking at the legal and regulatory issues around screening sport in pubs.

Nicholls attacked the recent decision by media regulator Ofcom not to intervene in the commercial market after an investigation into competition in the pay-TV industry, based on complaints by Sky's competitors.

"Essentially they have washed their hands of the pub trade," she said. "They have admitted the problem but are not going to do anything about it. It's a shocking conclusion."

She urged everyone to respond to a further consultation on the issue, which ends December 9.