Licensees face foreign satellite blitz
Licensees who show Premiership football via foreign satellite systems face a national crackdown by police and trading standards officers.
In an unprecedented move last week, police and trading standards officers raided four pubs believed to be using foreign satellite equipment - and seized their satellite cards and decoders.
However, suppliers of the equipment continue to remain defiant, arguing that what they are doing is not illegal.
The four pubs targeted in the raid - all in the Darwen area of Blackburn - were the Hordens on Livesey Branch Road, the George Hotel on Blackburn Road, the Victoria Hotel on Sudell Road and the Dog Inn on Revidge Road.
The FA Premier League (FAPL) refused to be specific on the type of equipment that was seized, but chief spokesman Dan Johnson confirmed it was "illegally imported decoder cards and boxes".
Mr Johnson claimed: "This sends a clear message to the licensed trade that the use of foreign satellite systems is illegal and will not be tolerated. We hope other licensees will take heed and stop using these illegal systems."
Ray Hoskin, managing director of Media Protection Services - which has been prosecuting licensees on behalf of FAPL - warned that it would also be "turning the spotlight" on the suppliers.
A number of pubs have continued to show football via foreign satellite systems after prosecutions recently failed on the basis that licensees did not know they were acting dishonestly.
However suppliers of foreign satellite equipment continue to claim the systems are legal.
Joe Ibrahim, managing director of Digital Sales, which supplies digital satellite receivers and decoders, said: "I have paperwork from the government saying that what we are doing is not illegal. But it should be decided by the High Court - there should be legislation on the matter."
