Pubs take free kick at Sky football deal

Pubs across the Black Country are challenging Sky TV's grip on football by showing live Premier League matches beamed from abroad - and even advertising the screenings on hoardings.

Jack's Café and Bar on the outskirts of Wolverhampton city centre showed the Wolves versus Blackpool game live this weekend.

The venue is one of many in the area taking advantage of tuning into foreign based broadcasts, which cost less than half the price of Sky.

More than 100 fans packed into the pub opposite St John's Retail Park in Snow Hill for the match, the first Saturday 3pm kick-off at Molineux to be televised there.

Jack's manager Jimmy Deol uses a feed from Scandinavian broadcaster Viasat for the games. The screenings breach UK copyright laws as they are not via authorised Premier League broadcasters BSkyB or ESPN.

Mr Deol says he believes the arrangement is "fair game" in light of recent comments by a senior European Union lawyer during a landmark case going through the European Court of Justice.

Advocate General Juliane Kokott told the court venues showing live Premier League matches from foreign broadcasters were not breaking EU law.

Portsmouth landlady Karen Murphy is challenging a conviction for screening Premier League games via a foreign broadcaster.

Latest advice issued by the Premier League's enforcement firm, Media Protection Services, states: "Karen Murphy has appealed her conviction to the European Court of Justice.

"This doesn't legitimise the use of foreign viewing cards in any way and Karen Murphy remains a convicted criminal for using an EU sourced viewing card."

But Mr Deol, aged 37, told the Express & Star: "Off the back of what has happened with that lady in Portsmouth it is fair game.

"Before then we had heard other places were doing it and wondered about it, but now there is something there to back us up.

"My Sky subscription costs £637 a month. This one is £300 a month.

"We have never been able to watch the 3pm games on a Saturday in this country and I think it is great that now people can."

However, dozens of pubs across Dudley have been warned about illegal screenings.

But The Arizona Crossing in High Street, Kingswinford, was among bars showing Wolves' 4-0 victory over Blackpool.

Owner Chris Silcox, 60, said there was huge demand for the law to be relaxed.

"Everything has opened up for licensing in the last 10 years, I think football should be part of that," he said. "We have been encouraged by the court case but we have been showing the games all season. We do have an official Sky package as well."

The Fiddlers Arms, in Straits Road, Lower Gornal, also uses the Viasat system to screen games, a member of staff said.

Fans watching Saturday's match gave landlords the thumbs up.

Foreman Peter Whitter, aged 42, was at Jack's. He said: "There's a couple of us that have got season tickets but we have decided to come here and watch the game with a few beers instead."

The father-of-two from All Saints added: "I think it's great being able to watch it in the pub."

Mr Whitter's 28-year-old friend Rich Evans, an administration worker for Wolverhampton Homes, is also fully behind Mr Deol.

"I think this is fair enough," the father-of-one, also from All Saints, said. "The cost of football has gone through the roof. It used to be a working class game and it's cheaper for people to watch the game in the pub."

Social services supervisor Pam Fellows argued youngsters were more likely to support their local team if broadcasting laws were relaxed.

The 37-year-old, from West Park, said: "You rarely see the local teams on Sky but this way they would always be on and children would support their local team."

A 20-minute drive away at The Arizona Crossing, Cradley Heath market trader Jason Jones is among a smaller turnout of around 30 fans watching the second half.

The 41-year-old father-of-three, from Wollaston, said: "It is a bit contentious — Rupert Murdoch isn't going to like it is he?

"It's fantastic if you can't get to the match. But the true fans will always want to be at the ground."

Bosses at pubs with Sky Sports packages in Wolverhampton city centre said they were watching the Karen Murphy case closely.

Stuart Davison, manager at Varsity in Stafford Street, said he would consider screening games via foreign broadcasters if it was made legal.