How long you could face in prison if caught using a 'dodgy' Amazon Fire Stick for EFL streaming | OneFootball

The authorities are making a crackdown against those broadcasting matches illegally

Those who are caught illegally broadcasting EFL matches for the 2025/26 season could face up to five years in prison due to an infringement of the Fraud Act 2006.

In the past 30 years or so, the ways in which English football is broadcast has transformed the overall outlook of the self-proclaimed 'beautiful game', especially in the eyes of supporters up and down the country who look to follow their Premier League, Championship, League One or League Two sides in many different ways.

However, some of those are known to be against the law across the United Kingdom, with the most prominent and high-profile example being the use of Amazon Fire Sticks, which have often been jailbroken by dealers across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to include streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon's own streaming service - Amazon Prime - and the likes of Sky Sports and TNT Sports, who are known for enticing supporters through their own legitimate broadcasting packages which give access to live broadcasts of Premier League, EFL, EFL Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League matches across various channels.

It is no surprise that many want to keep up to date with the drama that is synonymous with the Championship, League One and League Two, especially with the three divisions looking as wide-open as ever as we head into the festive and New Year period.

As such, this only increases the number of matches which are broadcast on terrestrial television and channels which require subscriptions. However, those looking to maximise their viewing in the cold winter months will be aware that being caught by the relevant authorities is set to come with a costly and lengthy punishment.

As previously mentioned, numerous police forces have begun a crackdown on those illegally accessing Premier League and EFL football - amongst other streaming platforms and TV shows - with 15 areas in particular, being targeted.

These are; London Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Northumbria and North Yorkshire.

Indeed, Amazon have recently released their latest Fire Stick product, the Fire TV Stick 4K, ahead of the frenzy that is the Black Friday sales market, in which products are sold for significantly less, attracting those looking for a nice bargain ahead of Christmas.

As such, customers are being urged to replace their old Fire Stick device with the latest instalment, with Amazon also incorporating changes within its latest model that make it harder for dealers to jailbrake and add illegal services.

As per a report from JOE, it has been noted that, through a survey in 2022, 19 percent of the population who were asked if they were in possession of a Fire Stick admitted to watching or downloading illegal content during a three-month period.

With sales of the product remaining anonymous and digital, many believe it is a clear way to bypass subscriptions, although the aforementioned report also states that, if caught, those in possession could face up to 12 months behind bars.

However, in some more extreme cases, the punishment will also be way more severe, with certain instances leading to a maximum of five years in prison.

This comes down to a breach of Section 11 within the Fraud Act 2006, which outlines "obtaining services dishonestly" and "knowing the services are made available on the basis that payment has been, is being or will be made for or in respect of them or that they might be; and avoids or intends to avoid payment in full or in part".

The current financial and economic climate has left many supporters with a dilemma as to how they get their football fix, particularly due to a constant rise in matchday tickets.

Those without a season ticket are also known for having to part with greater sums for a one-off game, with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday previously coming under-fire for such instances, whilst Coventry City have recently charged supporters of both West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City £45 for matches at the CBS Arena.