Web-only England game a "blow" to pubs

Pubs look to set to miss out on being able to screen England's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Saturday - as it will be the first game to be shown exclusively on the internet.

The match, effectively a dead rubber as England has already qualified for the finals, will be live to internet subscribers, who will have to pay at least £4.99.

Digital sport specialist Perform has been appointed to show the match online, after it was originally scheduled to be screened by the Setanta but the UK arm of the broadcaster collapsed in June.

Odeon cinemas have won the right to screen the game throughout its venues in the UK, but pubs will not be entitled to show the match.

In the terms and conditions of the contract it says the screening should not be used for "any commercial purposes whatsoever".

Mark Hastings, communications director at the British Beer & Pub Association, said not being able to screen the game will be a "real blow" for pubs "especially as pubs already invest heavily in bringing live sport to millions, every week".

He added: "Many pubs sponsoring their local football teams will see players returning from their weekend matches disappointed, as they can't enjoy the game together in the pub."

A poll on the BBC's website currently shows 97 per cent will not pay for the game.

But Andrew Croker, executive chairman of Perform, told the BBC that England fans would "embrace" the internet broadcast.

The match will be shown at www.ukrainevengland.com