ALMR warns ECJ ruling is not a green light to start using foreign decoder cards

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has warned that today's ruling by the European Court of Justice on screening football in pubs is not a green light to start using foreign decoder cards.

The case was launched by Portsmouth pub landlady Karen Murphy, who was fined for screening English Premier League matches via a Greek pay-TV decoder at 3pm on a Saturday.

In its judgement, the ECJ said that national legislation which prohibits the import, sale or use of foreign decoder cards "cannot be justified".

Kate Nicholls, ALMR's strategic affairs director, said: "We welcome the recognition by the court that the system put in place by the Football Association Premier League (FAPL) is unfair and results in publicans paying a disproportionately high price for sports broadcasting. For too long, pubs have been footing Sky's debt to the FAPL. The court is quite clear that that is not only wrong, it is anti-competitive.

"The ruling is only the start of the process, however. Whilst it clarifies what is not allowed, it will be down to the UK courts to implement and apply it in practice. There are many hoops to go through before pubs get a fairer deal - but today's judgement holds out that prospect in the future. FAPL and Sky are on notice.

"This is not a green light for pubs to start using foreign satellite services now. The ruling is clear that whilst foreign satellite cards may be imported, their use is a different matter and pubs would need permission to broadcast under any new system. This is far from clear cut and the implications will take time to feed through. In the meantime, UK law still outlaws their use - proceed with caution."

EU rules pubs and bars can show cheap foreign football coverage >>

BBPA welcomes ECJ judgement on cheap football coverage >>

By Neil Gerrard

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