Pub football case ruling delayed

Ms Murphy will have to wait a few more weeks for a verdict

The High Court has reserved judgement in a test case about whether an English pub can use foreign satellite equipment to show live football.

Lord Justice Pumfrey and Mr Justice Stanley Burnton are expected to deliver a verdict in the next few weeks.

The case was brought by the FA Premier League against Karen Murphy of the Red, White and Blue pub in Hampshire.

It is a test case for many publicans who have tried to use alternatives to BSkyB and Setanta's services.

The FA Premier League (FAPL) is fighting the case to protect exclusivity deals.

Criminal record risk

Ms Murphy was showing live matches through a Greek broadcaster called Nova, which charged her about £800 a year - compared with the £6,000 that she would have had to pay Sky for the service.

The FAPL is worried that if it loses, the case then it will lose the ability to grant exclusive national rights to broadcasters such as BSkyB and Setanta.

If that were to happen, broadcasters would be likely to try to recoup some of the money they paid for exclusive rights.

Between them, the two firms are paying almost £1.7bn for the Premier League games over three seasons.

As it is a criminal prosecution, Ms Murphy risks having a criminal record, which would mean that her local council could decide to revoke her pub licence.