The punishment you could face for using Amazon Fire TV Sticks to illegally stream football in 2024/25

The punishment that you could face for illegally streaming football matches this season using an Amazon Fire Stick has been revealed.

Viewers have been turning towards other ways of watching live sport as the cost of sports packages to watch Sky Sports and TNT Sports have risen.

One way of watching live football is through an Amazon Fire Stick, which gives viewers access to thousands of films, TV shows and documentaries.

And while Amazon does have rights to selected Premier League matches through its Prime Video service, streaming other football matches through a Fire TV stick via alternative platforms is illegal.

Ahead of the new season, the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT UK) have confirmed they are set to clamp down to those planning to use the Fire TV stick, with its usage breaching copyright law.

A spokesperson for FACT UK has said: "FACT constantly monitors the digital landscape to combat illegal streaming activities in the UK and Ireland.

"We utilise a range of methods to identify individuals engaged in unauthorised businesses that offer access to illegal streams.

"One of these methods is through our partnership with Crimestoppers to make it as easy as possible to report illegal streaming, and over the past we have seen a significant increase in the number of reports directly linked to Fire Sticks and illegal streaming."

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The Fraud Act 2006 details the current UK copyright law and the potential punishments for breaching it.

It is an illegal offence to watch TV or streaming services without paying the required fee to do so, with Section 11 elaborating on this as 'obtaining services dishonestly [including] knowing the services are made available on the basis that payment has been, is being or will be made for or in respect of them or that they might be; and avoids or intends to avoid payment in full or in part'.

Possible punishments for a law breach includes a prison sentence. Those who receive a summary conviction will face up to 12 months in prison, although more serious cases can incur a maximum sentence of five years.