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

Another football season is about to start and while fans are getting excited for the action on the pitch something dark and serious is happening behind the scenes it’s not about transfers or tactics or last minute goals this one is about how you watch the game and for some people it could end with a prison sentence the uk government and premier league authorities are warning again that fans using jailbroken fire sticks or illegal iptv services to stream football without paying are risking everything from massive fines to actual jail time it’s not a warning you can ignore anymore and this time they’re going further than they ever have before

for years football fans have been searching for ways to beat the system maybe you’ve done it maybe you know someone who has everyone’s heard of it jailbroken amazon fire sticks that give you access to every premier league game champions league europa league and even pay per view fights all without paying a single penny extra at first it felt like a loophole like a smart trick maybe even harmless just another way to watch football but now that idea is being completely destroyed by the authorities and they want to make sure everyone knows exactly what’s at stake

the uk’s fraud act 2006 says it clearly anyone who accesses paid tv services without permission is committing an offence and that includes individuals not just those selling the fire sticks or running the illegal websites but the people sitting at home in their living rooms using the hacked device to watch the match it doesn’t matter if you only use it once or if you’re not the one who bought it it’s still illegal and it carries real consequences depending on how the case goes you could be looking at a sentence of up to 12 months in prison for a summary conviction or up to 5 years if the case ends up in crown court and if that’s not scary enough the fines are brutal you could be forced to pay up to £60k and even more when you include legal costs and compensation to broadcasters

this isn’t just some empty threat either because the authorities have already started taking people down just recently a man was arrested after being caught using a modified fire stick to stream matches he thought he was being clever but the police tracked his ip address and knocked on his door early in the morning he’s now facing a serious investigation and possibly a court appearance and he’s not the only one two brothers from the uk were sentenced to a combined 11 years in prison after running a massive illegal streaming business another man was caught in greece and given eight years the message is clear they are watching they are tracking and they are ready to punish

what’s really scary is that a lot of people still think they’re safe they think the risk only applies to the big guys the people making money selling subscriptions or uploading streams but that’s not true anymore fact the uk organisation that helps fight tv fraud has made it clear that users will now be targeted too they’re working with crimestoppers and encouraging people to report neighbours friends even family members who they know are using jailbroken fire sticks the idea of getting grassed up by someone you know might sound extreme but that’s exactly what’s happening more people are being reported every week and every single one is being taken seriously

the government and broadcasters are also using smarter technology they can now detect when streams are being accessed from strange or suspicious locations and with more judges approving warrants to track ip addresses it’s getting easier to connect a specific stream to a specific user so even if you’re not posting online or sharing links even if you’re just watching quietly at home they might still come knocking and if they do it won’t be a friendly conversation

copyright lawyers are warning people to stop pretending this is a grey area it’s not watching a match through an illegal stream is no different from walking into a cinema without buying a ticket or downloading a movie illegally it’s theft plain and simple the football matches are the intellectual property of broadcasters and clubs and using a hacked fire stick to watch them without paying is just as bad as stealing from a shop except in this case the punishments are far worse

some fans argue that subscriptions are too expensive and that’s why they use the fire sticks and to be honest it’s a fair point premier league matches are spread across sky sports bt sport amazon prime and sometimes more and if you want to watch everything legally you might end up paying over £100 a month that’s a lot especially during a cost of living crisis it’s easy to understand why people feel like they’re being pushed towards the illegal option but unfortunately the law doesn’t care about your reasons if you stream illegally you’re still breaking the law and the consequences are the same

there’s also a dangerous belief that using a vpn can protect you some people think that by hiding their ip address or pretending they’re in another country they can avoid detection but cybersecurity experts say this isn’t a full-proof method many vpns are now being forced to keep logs and provide them to authorities when requested and even if your location is hidden other data like payment methods and usage patterns can still be used against you in court so thinking you’re invisible is a huge mistake

another thing people forget is that these illegal streams are often filled with hidden risks you might be watching the game for free but you could be opening your device up to viruses malware or data theft cybercriminals love these streaming platforms because they’re unregulated and filled with vulnerable users there have been multiple cases where users lost personal information or had their bank accounts hacked after using illegal apps or services so not only are you risking jail time you could also end up losing your money or having your identity stolen all because you wanted to save on a sky subscription

the authorities are taking a different approach now instead of just going after the sellers they want to create fear among the viewers they want to make examples out of everyday people and it’s working just look at the online forums that used to be filled with links and guides on how to install illegal apps now they’re filled with questions about getting caught or prosecuted the fear is spreading and that’s exactly what the government wants they want you to think twice the next time you reach for that jailbroken fire stick they want you to feel the pressure

they’re also using big headlines and high profile arrests to send a message every time someone gets caught it makes the news and that’s not an accident they want people to see the consequences they want parents to think about what kind of example they’re setting for their kids they want university students to realise that watching the match in your dorm for free could ruin your future it’s not just about a game anymore it’s about your record your freedom and your money

this situation has sparked a wider conversation about how football is sold to fans a lot of people believe the real problem is how expensive and complicated it’s become to watch the sport you love in the past you could just tune in on saturday afternoon and watch your team now you need multiple subscriptions streaming devices and sometimes even pay per view charges it’s no surprise that some fans feel like the system is broken and that’s exactly why the illegal market exists but again none of this changes the fact that the law is clear and the punishments are harsh

in the coming months the crackdown is only going to increase fact has promised more raids more arrests and more court cases they’ve also launched awareness campaigns in local areas warning people about the risks posters leaflets even radio ads telling you that your next match could be your last if you’re watching illegally they’re serious about it and they’re not backing down

for football fans the message is simple it’s not worth the risk you might think you’re saving money or being clever but in reality you’re walking a dangerous line one that could end with you in court with a criminal record or worse and no match no goal no highlight is worth that the authorities aren’t joking anymore they’ve drawn the line and if you cross it you could pay the price it’s time for fans to ask themselves is it really worth it because once you’re caught it’s too late to change your mind and the game you love could end up costing you everything