Football Fans Given New Illegal Stream Warning As UK Ban Introduced

Football fans streaming illegally have been sent a fresh warning after a new ban reached the UK.

In recent times many users been watching live football through IPTV services and 'dodgy' Amazon fire sticks which often also have access to films and TV programmes.

Typically, the fire sticks have content loaded on to them and contain illegal apps and it has been estimated previously that around six million people in the UK have consumed illegal sports coverage.

But a new development means that some users are being blocked from accessing the aforementioned apps and therefore unable to stream.

The latest version of the Amazon fire stick will use a different operating system called Vega OS and on these newer models, modified Android apps will not work as there will not be the ability to side-load apps.

In a stumbling block to those who create the apps, only ones from the Amazon Appstore on Fire TV are available for download "for enhanced security".

The new Amazon fire stick will help block illegal streaming. Image: Getty

In addition, Amazon have been working with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) to identify and block apps which they believe are hubs of the illegal content.

“Piracy is illegal, and we’ve always worked to block it from our Appstore,” an Amazon spokesperson said on the blocking system, as per The Sun.

“Through an expanded program led by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global coalition fighting digital piracy, we’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our Appstore.

“This builds on our ongoing efforts to support creators and protect customers, as piracy can also expose users to malware, viruses, and fraud.”

The system first launched elsewhere and went after sideloaded IPTV apps but now, according to Cordbusters, it as made its way to the UK.

When going on the apps, some users on these shores have been greeted with an app disabled message which reads, "This app has been disabled because it has been identified as using or providing access to unlicensed content".

The message which is greeting some users in the UK. Image: Cordbusters

They then have the option to dismiss or uninstall the app. While these apps can still be downloaded, opening up will result in the “app disabled” screen and no way to proceed onto the content they were hoping.

What are the punishments for illegal streaming?

Using apps to illegal stream content which is not authorised by the owner is a violation of section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006, which focuses on "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".

A violation can, in theory, result in up 12 months in prison for a summary conviction. A worse case scenario for the most serious offence can carry a maximum sentence of five years.

Kieron Sharp, chairman of The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), told Yahoo News that the organisation is "very keen not to criminalise everybody" despite their aggressive efforts to combat piracy.

The priority appears to be with those responsible for the illegal services.

In a fairly recent case, a man from Liverpool was hit with a three-year prison sentence in November following a private prosecution overseen by the Premier League.

He sold illegal fire sticks through Facebook and word-of-mouth, while his own use of the device was also treated as a criminal offence.

In a second instance, an individual from Lebanon was sentenced to 11 months in prison for providing an illegal streaming service for Premier League games - and forced to pay £69,000 in damages.

A significant development last week saw four arrests made in Manchester, with police officers administering a raid where ten servers and associated equipment worth £750,000 were discovered.