Publicans eye cheap soccer access

Irish publicans may be able to use cheap decoders to show English Premier League football matches following a UK court ruling that has wide implications for broadcasters and TV programme-makers.

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, which represents 4,500 publicans outside Dublin, is considering the implications of the case in which English pub landlady Karen Murphy won a legal battle to overturn her conviction for using foreign decoders to show Premier League games.

Hitting out at the high cost of screening sport in pubs, Vintners’ chief executive Padraig Cribben said the organisation was awaiting clarification of the legal position for its members.