FA under fire for closed period footy screenings

by John Harrington

The FA Premier League (FAPL) has been accused of hypocrisy for permitting a bar in Newcastle United's stadium to show games on Saturday afternoons when other pubs may not.

Newcastle licensees are incensed that the 1,200-capacity Shearer's bar, below the Gallowgate Stand, can show Newcastle United away games during the 'closed period' of between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays.

The FA placed adverts in the trade press this season warning licensees that 'closed-period' screenings are not permitted. The FA encourages people to watch games in stadiums.

'It's one rule for them and one rule for the rest of us,' said Michael Hill, licensee of the Strawberry, which is located just 30 yards from St James' Park stadium.

Hill said trade was down by about £500 at the pub, which has a capacity of around 150, every time a Saturday afternoon Newcastle game was shown at Shearer's.

'It is not just ourselves who have suffered. It is happening all over the city,' he said.

Trade consultant Phil Dixon, an adviser to the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), complained about the situation at Shearer's, named after Newcastle and former England star Alan Shearer, in a letter to the FAPL last month.

Dixon wrote: 'Our problem at the BII is that our north-east members are pretty miffed at their pubs emptying every Saturday as hundreds watch the footy in Shearer's Bar during the closed period.

'The FAPL statement is emphatic there are no exceptions whatsoever for the closed period.' Dixon told the MA that the FAPL has yet to reply.

Media Protection Services (MPS), which investigates illegal screenings at pubs, said there is nothing illegal about Shearer's showing matches in the closed period because the FAPL, which owns the copyright to games, has allowed them to do so.

MPS boss Ray Hoskin said FAPL allows Shearer's bar to screen the games for the benefit of fans who can not travel to away matches.