Premier League complaint sees illegal stream provider given 11-month prison sentence and £70,000 fine

The governing body joined forces with Sky Sports to take the provider to court and the defendant was eventually found guilty of five charges. They were sentenced to 11 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $90,000 (£70,000).

Illegal streaming has increasingly become a problem for the Premier League, who sell TV rights to their product for lucrative fees around the world. They joined forces with both Sky and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment to make the complaint, while the Lebanese Cyber Crime Bureau were also involved.

Kevin Plumb, the Premier League general counsel, said: "The outcome of this case highlights the severity with which courts across the world continue to treat all forms of piracy, and the stark consequences for those responsible for this criminality. The case further demonstrates the Premier League’s commitment to protecting its intellectual property around the world. This is not only important to us and our broadcast partners, but it is essential for the future health of English football and the protection of our fans."

The UK Premier League TV rights have been sold for the next four years, with Sky Sports and TNT Sports agreeing to broadcast games until 2029.