CRACKDOWN

Prison warning to millions streaming TV football through pirate Fire Sticks

- BY NICK SOMMERLAD Investigations Editor

FOOTBALL fans watching matches with dodgy Amazon Fire Sticks could be jailed under a crackdown on illegal streaming.

Investigators leading the fight against the £21billion a year swindle warn millions of viewers there is a risk of landmark prosecutions next season. And the maximum penalty could be five years in prison.

Users were also warned criminal gangs behind the sale of Fire Sticks could steal personal details.

Up until now, only sellers of the sticks have been hauled to court.

But Federation Against Copyright Theft chairman Kieron Sharp said: "It is possible consumers could get swept up in our investigations. We did have the attitude that we would rather not criminalise the end user.