BLACKBURN Rovers and Burnley FC bosses have united to call for a crackdown on pubs showing live matches on foreign satellite channels.

Both clubs feel the practice - which is an infringement of copyright - is damaging their attendances.

They spoke out after a Lancashire Telegraph investigation revealed that pubs across East Lancashire were continuing to show the matches at 3pm on Saturdays.

The practice is going on despite pledges two years ago to get tough on landlords. As yet there is yet to be a prosecution in East Lancashire.

The Telegraph found more than 10 town centre pubs across the area showing the games. It is feared the true figure is far higher with many community pubs also believed to be using the foreign feeds.

And the situation is a creating a split between landlords, with those who pay more than £1,100 a month for the Sky TV official package upset at those who take the cheaper feed.

The Federation Against Copyright Theft is responsible for making prosecutions, in conjunction with the FA Premier League.

They insist they will take landlords to court where they face fines of £5,000 and the threat of having their licences revoked.

A spokesman for Burnley FC, where the average gate is 12,365, said: “It is impossible to ascertain how much this may, or may not affect attendances at Turf Moor, but the saturation coverage of live games these days has to be a factor in reducing crowd attendances across the board.

“Clearly, with that concern in mind, the footballing authorities in this country laid down strict regulations for live games not to be shown here at 3pm on Saturday afternoons.

“Therefore, we would naturally be urging the authorities to clampdown on any illegal activity regarding the broadcasting of live games.”

It is believed that a case being taken to the European court involving Karen Murphy landlady of the Red, White and Blue, in Portsmouth and BSkyB is responsible for the lack of action as bosses await a decision.

Rovers chairman John Williams said he believed foreign channels were taking traditional fans away from the terraces. He has called for action via Blackburn MP Jack Straw.

Mr Williams, who has seen his club’s gate fall by almost 3,000 in the past seven years, said: “Whether it is illegal is a matter for the courts to decide, but it is something the Premier League are quite clear on and although I have no concrete evidence, I think it is certainly damaging home attendances.”

Chief Executive of the Licensed Victuallers' Association (LVA) Tony Payne said he advised licensees to be ‘careful’ until the European case was concluded.

Mr Payne said: “It is a cause for concern because those who are paying for the proper channels and can’t afford the risk are losing the trade.”

A Darwen landlady, who asked not to be named, said: “We just want to earn a living. You just have to not draw attention to yourself if you’re showing games on those channels.

“It costs us £1100 a month to have Sky, which is too much. We have to get a loy of people through the doors to cover that.”

The landlords of a Nelson pub added: “I think 95 per cent of the games that I show are on Sky or Setanta and I only got the foreign system as an afterthought.”

But another landlord, who does not have the illegal equipment, said he believed those tuning-in to foreign channels on Saturdays at 3pm were ‘killing’ the trade.

A Premier League spokesman said the ban on 3pm television screenings in this country was to protect attendances.

He said: “This is a measure strongly supported by the football authorities and the government and European Commission.

“In addition to this, the use of foreign satellite equipment to broadcast Barclays Premier League football is illegal and the Premier League is continuing to monitor this and action, including prosecutions where appropriate, will continue to be taken.”

Police said they would support any prosecutions and, although it was not for them to take the lead, they sent warning messages to pubs through meetings