EPL Cracks Down On Pubs Using Illegal Foreign Satellites To Show Games

The Premier League "has appointed a firm of corporate investigators to carry out spot-checks and investigations into pubs and clubs showing live matches on Saturday afternoons," according to Martyn Ziegler of the PA. Pubs "can access the matches using foreign satellite systems which are often considerably cheaper than the British systems." The Premier League has appointed Glasgow-based firm ID Inquiries, and "will step up the number of pub visits and investigations to a higher level than any previous season." A Premier League spokesperson said, ''We remind all publicans that Sky Sports and BT Sport are the only authorized broadcasters of live Premier League matches in the U.K. and that legal action will be taken against those who use unauthorized satellite systems to show Premier League matches in commercial premises.'' ID Inquiries has put up a notice on the front page of its website inviting people to report "illegal broadcasts of football matches on commercial premises" (PA, 7/24).