Premier League fans who attempt to illegally stream football this weekend have been warned they could be ‘intercepted’ as part of a new anti-piracy initiative.
The rise of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology has helped to contribute to an upsurge in illegal streaming of sports events in recent years.
Last year a YouGov poll found that one in ten Britons are now using illegal broadcasts to watch sport, including the Premier League.
Fans have been warned about the potential consequences of accessing illegal streams following a number of recent convictions of those involved.
Two brothers were sentenced to a combined 11 years behind bars last month after a crackdown on illegal IPTV streaming, which is often accessed through jailbroken Fire Sticks.
Meanwhile, broadcasters Sky have been working with police forces across the UK to target those responsible for setting up the illegal services.
Now, a new anti-piracy scheme has been set up to target Premier League fans ahead of the north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham on Sunday, which will be shown live on Sky Sports.
BeStreamWise is planning to ‘intercept’ football fans searching for an illegal stream for the game in the hopes of protecting them from ‘the dangers of digital piracy’.
Fans who click faux streaming links on Reddit and X will instead be redirected to a site showing footage of an actual stream, with a ‘well-known’ comedian providing football commentary.
Arsenal and Spurs face each other this weekend (Image: Getty)
BeStreamWise is a cross-body initiative set up by several organisations to counter illegal streaming, with its partners including the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), the Intellectual Property Office and Crimestoppers UK.
The BBC, Sky and ITV are also partners, as is the Premier League.
In a statement on its website, BeStreamWise warn fans that illegally streaming sport could open them up to several other risks in addition to potential legal action.
“In all cases, users should be on their guard. Sites and apps are often used to deliver dangerous or malicious content, such as malware, sophisticated scams, and extreme/explicit content,” read the statement.
“And when consumers part with personal information, such as email addresses or payment details, they should be aware that they are sharing those details with criminal organisations.”