What actually happens if you’re caught using a 'dodgy' Fire Stick in the UK | OneFootball

Sky are set for a crackdown on the use of illegal Fire Sticks in the UK

Jailbroken Amazon Fire Sticks have proven an effective way to circumvent the cost of a monthly subscription to EFL broadcaster Sky Sports for supporters from the United Kingdom.

However, the illegal activity is set for a crackdown from the UK police, with Sky issuing a warning that fines of up to £50,000 could be handed out for those caught using the service.

The broadcaster has an agreement with the EFL to show over 1,000 live matches between 2024 and 2029 following a deal worth £895 million, plus another £40 million in marketing.

As part of this agreement, they will want to protect their intellectual property by preventing the access of their broadcasts through illegal means.

These Fire Sticks provide supporters with a workaround, but there are consequences to being caught using them.

What happens to people caught using dodgy Fire Sticks in the UK

The distribution and selling of illegal Fire Sticks is of greater concern to police in the UK compared to the use of them.

However, it is still against the law to purchase and consume these jailbroken devices, and there are consequences to being caught.

Their use violates Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006, which could lead to fines worth as much as £50,000 for the funding of serious organised crime.

It is also possible that a jail sentence could be handed to anyone caught using these illegal services.

Sky are reportedly working alongside the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) in order to crack down on these devices, which could lead to an increase in charges against the number of people using these services.

Sky Sports is the home of the EFL in the UK, and it currently costs up to £22 per month to add the relevant channels to your regular Sky TV subscription, although you can also access their live sport through NOW TV, which does not require Sky TV.

17 areas in the UK set for dodgy Fire Stick crackdown

Sky have confirmed that they are planning to work alongside FACT in a bid to crack down on the usage of these illegal Fire Sticks.

"At Sky, we invest significantly in protecting our content, which can include taking action against those who watch Sky without paying the proper subscription fee,” said a Sky spokesperson, via the Daily Mail.

"We of course ensure that any action we take is compliant with all applicable laws."

The Sport Industry Report 2026 has shown that 58 per cent of supporters and 66 per cent of industry professionals believe that the use of dodgy Fire Sticks has become socially acceptable amid the rising costs of subscriptions.

But there are now believed to be 17 areas of the UK that will be targeted by police in a bid to eliminate the illegal access of these devices.

The areas are, as follows: London, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Northumbria, North Yorkshire, South Wales, North East England and North West England.

However, given the rising costs of subscriptions to live TV, it remains to be seen whether supporters will be put off finding other means in order to access ways to watch their team every week despite the risk of potentially massive fines, and even possibly jail time.