Sunderland hosts plan to shop foreign sat screenings

A group of Sunderland licensees has raised the idea of forming a "crime-watch group" to shop pubs that screen foreign satellite football.

That's according to Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn, following his strongly-worded attack on foreign satellite screenings — which he said is hitting attendance at his club.

Writing in the programme notes for Sunderland's game against Tottenham on Saturday, Quinn said: "Thankfully I have received a lot of letters, some complaining about my comments from the very people who watch in the pub, but can I add there were lots of positive ones from fans who see it my way and that was most refreshing.

"I've also had a group of local publicans asking if they could set up a type of pub 'crime-watch' group who will refuse to show Sunderland games and that's great."

Quinn had earlier said he "despised" people who watched Sunderland games in the pub via foreign satellites.

He wrote: "Using the word 'despise' wasn't easy but it seems to have worked and I am more than happy to speak to anyone who has a counter argument but can we all be reminded that right now illegal broadcasting is what it is."

The former Ireland footballer even threatened to quit if the upcoming ruling of the European Court of Justice goes in favour of foreign satellite screenings.

"If things change and it becomes legal, I will have a look at the situation and see how people feel.

"If a core number of people want to start doing it that way instead of coming to support the club then maybe I'll have to question my role here. That's how seriously I take this."

Speaking after the Tottenham game, Quinn labeled foreign satellite screenings an "epidemic" in his region and "particularly rampant" in the Seaham area.

He also said he'll spend the next few weeks "on the road, talking to fans about the importance of choosing to attend a live game instead of spending their money watching the game in the pub".