A publican has become a victim of the Premier League's promised crackdown on pubs showing unlicensed football matches.The Publicans' Morning Advertiser reports that a landlord from Essex has been fined after showing Premier League matches without a commercial viewing agreement in place with Sky Sports.
It follows a confusing ruling last week in the courts in which the judge's verdict on a long-standing debate about the legitimacy of pubs using foreign decoders to show football matches led to both sides claiming victory.
After the ruling, the Premier League vowed to continue to pursue those who show football "without our authority", while a lawyer representing the defendants said they were "pleased" the majority of claims had been dismissed.
Business insurance policies that provide commercial legal protection can, depending on the circumstances, help to cover a pub owner's expenses should a case go to court.
A Portsmouth landlady is due to have her own football-related case heard in court on February 24th.
