Those convicted unlawfully broadcasting EFL matches for the 2025/26 season face up to five years in jail under the Fraud Act 2006.
In the last 30 years or so, the way English football has been broadcast has transformed the overall outlook of the self-proclaimed ‘beautiful game’, particularly in the eyes of supporters across the country who look to follow their Premier League, Championship, League One, or League Two teams in a variety of ways.
However, some of those are known to be illegal in the United Kingdom, with the most prominent and high-profile example being the use of Amazon Fire Sticks, which have often been jailbroken by dealers across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to include streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon’s own streaming service – Amazon Prime – and the likes of Sky Sports and TNT Sports, who are known for enticing supporters through their own legitimate broa
It’s no wonder that many people want to stay up to speed on the drama that surrounds the Championship, League One, and League Two, especially as the three divisions appear to be as open as ever as we approach the holiday season and New Year’s.
As a result, the number of matches shown on terrestrial television and subscription-based channels has increased. Those trying to maximise their viewing during the harsh winter months should be warned that being discovered by the authorities will result in a pricey and lengthy punishment.
Holders of Amazon Fire Sticks might face up to five years in prison during the police crackdown.
As previously stated, various police agencies have launched a crackdown on people who illegally watch Premier League and EFL football, as well as other streaming sites and TV shows, with a focus on 15 specific areas.
These include London, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Northumbria, and North Yorkshire.
Indeed, Amazon recently announced their latest Fire Stick product, the Fire TV Stick 4K, ahead of the Black Friday sales frenzy, in which products are considerably discounted, luring people looking for a good deal before Christmas.
As a result, customers are being urged to replace their outdated Fire Stick devices with the latest iteration, with Amazon adding incorporating tweaks into its latest model that make it more difficult for dealers to jailbreak and install illegal services.
According to a JOE article, a survey conducted in 2022 revealed that 19% of those polled who had a Fire Stick admitted to watching or downloading unlawful content over a three-month period.
With sales of the product remaining secret and digital, many believe it is a clear means to avoid subscriptions, yet the aforementioned report also warns that if detected, anyone in possession might face up to 12 months in prison.
However, in other more serious cases, the punishment will be far more harsh, with some incidents carrying a maximum sentence of five years in jail.
This amounts to a violation of Section 11 of the Fraud Act of 2006, which states that “obtaining services dishonestly” and “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”
Illegal Fire Stick usage comes despite an increase in EFL matchday tickets.
The current financial and economic climate has left many fans perplexed as to how they will obtain their football fix, especially given the continual rise in matchday tickets.
Those without a season ticket are also known to have to pay more for a single game, with Sheffield Wednesday previously coming under fire for this, while Coventry City recently charged West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City supporters £45 for matches at the CBS Arena.
At the moment, the EFL’s TV deal with Sky Sports is operational until 2028/29 and costs £935 million, with £40 million of the aforementioned number arriving through ‘extra marketing benefits’.
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