France proposes €375,000 fines for illegal sports streaming users
France is cracking down on illegal sports streaming with heavier penalties for both viewers and suppliers. A new bill proposes fines of up to €375,000 and prison sentences for those caught using pirated streams. The move follows growing concerns over lost revenue for football clubs and the widespread use of unauthorised IPTV services.
Recently, 19 viewers and two suppliers of illegal sports streams were fined in France. Most viewers faced penalties between €300 and €400 for using IPTV boxes to access premium content without paying. Authorities tracked them through IP addresses and personal details linked to their setups.
Under current law, the maximum fine for viewers is €7,500. But the proposed bill would raise this to €375,000, along with a possible five-year prison term. Suppliers could also face up to €300,000 in fines and three years in jail. The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) supports these stricter measures to cut demand for illegal streaming. French football clubs reportedly lose around €400 million annually due to piracy. To counter this, the LFP plans to launch an official Ligue 1 subscription service in the 2026-2027 season, priced at €19.99 per month.
The proposed fines mark a significant increase from existing penalties. If passed, the law would make France one of the strictest countries in Europe for combating illegal sports streaming. The LFP's upcoming subscription service aims to provide a legal alternative while protecting club revenues.
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