Liverpool has been named as a hotspot for illegal football streaming, alongside Manchester and Newcastle upon Tyne
Liverpool has been identified as a hotspot for illegal football streaming, with Birmingham and Wolverhampton also featuring in the top 10 list. The data was compiled by Footy Accumulators, who analysed the number of internet searches related to illegal streaming in 30 of the UK’s most populated areas, calculating the average search volume per 100,000 people.
Birmingham ranked third, with 250.4 illegal football streaming searches per 100,000 people, giving the city a score of 8.7 out of 10. Wolverhampton came in fifth, with 229.1 illegal football streaming searches per 100,000 people, earning a score of 8 out of 10.
Manchester topped the list overall, followed by Newcastle in second place and Liverpool in fourth. This comes after football fans were warned earlier this year about a crackdown on illegal streaming.
Top 10 locations for illegal searches
Rank
Location
Illegal football streaming searches per 100,000 capita
Score /10
1.
Manchester
286.7
10
2.
Newcastle upon Tyne
269.6
9.4
3.
Birmingham
250.4
8.7
4.
Liverpool
245.1
8.5
5.
Wolverhampton
229.1
8
6.
Leeds
218.5
7.7
7.
Bolton
217.4
7.6
8.
Bournemouth
216.3
7.5
9.
Plymouth
211.4
7.4
10.
Norwich
178.7
6.2
In May, football aficionados using Amazon Fire TV Sticks to illegally stream games were hit with a stark warning—they might face hefty fines of up to £50,000 as home raids are set to become ‘inevitable’. This emerged amidst a broader crackdown carried out by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) in collaboration with other UK bodies targeting this specific crime.
Free Bets Ireland’s sports analyst Alex Hemming raised the alarm, outlining the dangers. As quoted by Birmingham Live, he said: “The risks associated with illegal streaming of sports in the UK are significant and multifaceted.
“The potential for hefty fines, criminal prosecution, and personal data compromise makes illegal streaming a risky endeavour. With more legitimate streaming options available than ever, choosing to view sports through official channels is not only the legal choice but the smarter one.”
