DOZENS of East Lancashire pubs could be unwittingly breaking the law by showing live football matches via foreign TV channels, a top solicitor has warned.

Malcolm Ireland, of Blackburn-based Napthens, said landlords were mistaken in believing that a case involving a pub boss from Portsmouth gave them legal protection to air games at 3pm on Saturdays.

The High Court referred questions to the European Courts of Justice after licensee Karen Murphy was convicted of showing English games on foreign channels.

However, Mr Ireland said any European support was not yet binding in law and showing English league games via foreign decoders remained a breach of copyright.

He said: “I have spoken to several clients in East Lancashire about this and I am advising them not to show these games.

“On the basis of that, I think it is reasonable to assume that there will be plenty more out there who have gone ahead and started using foreign decoders on the back of the case.”

Mr Ireland said the situation would only be cleared up when the High Court gives its own judgement on foreign decoders, expected later this year.

Previous Lancashire Telegraph investigations have uncovered dozens of pubs showing games at 3pm on Saturdays, a practice blasted by Blackburn Rovers and Burnley FC.

And several pubs have been spotted airing matches in the light of the Murphy case earlier this year.

Geoff Sutcliffe, of East Lancashire Licensed Victuallers' Association, said: “I think there are a lot of pubs in Blackburn and Burnley showing these games and they think it is legal when it is not.

“I would advise all my members to stay on the safe side of the law.”

Under an agreement with the Premier League, Sky and ESPN have exclusive broadcast rights over Premier League matches.