LaLiga blasts pirate streams as cybercrime gateways

Days after announcing a domestic match will be played abroad, LaLiga has taken aim at pirated football streams. 

LaLiga has launched a new campaign warning supporters about the dangers of streaming pirated football matches, with the message: “You get pirated football, they get you.”

In a statement released on August 11, Spain’s top-flight league said illegal streaming platforms present a growing threat to fans’ digital security. 

According to recent studies cited by LaLiga, many of these sites are operated by organised criminal networks. Once accessed, they can install malicious software on a user’s device, enabling hackers to steal passwords, bank details and even activate cameras without permission.

A new webpage has been launched to help fans identify pirated sites and understand the dangers. 

LaLiga says users of illegal platforms are increasingly exposed to threats that can compromise device security, personal information, privacy and bank accounts. It also notes the average number of clicks needed to start a stream on pirate sites has risen from four to seven, with each additional click representing another potential risk.

The campaign is supported by a 20-second video which delivers a blunt warning: “When you stream a match on an illegal site, you’re opening your life to anyone. They’ll gain access to your phone, accounts, passwords and personal emails.

“They can drain your bank account, steal your identity. They’ll know everything about you. Everything. You get pirated football, they’ll get you.”

Overly dramatic or financially motivated?

The campaign video’s ominous tone draws comparisons to the early 2000s anti-piracy adverts shown before films, particularly the now-infamous “You wouldn’t steal a car” commercial, which has since become a popular internet meme.

While LaLiga has positioned its message as one focused on protecting users from cyber threats, the league’s own release highlights a substantial financial incentive behind the crackdown. It estimates piracy costs Spanish clubs between $700-816m (€600-€700m) each year.

The issue is not unique to Spain. In France, Ligue 1’s broadcasting arrangements have been strained by the prevalence of illegal streams, with broadcasters warning that lost revenue threatens the sustainability of rights deals.

Last year, Italy’s Serie A took a more direct approach, partnering with Meta to target unauthorised match streams on Facebook and Instagram. Under the agreement, Serie A gained access to Meta’s monitoring tools for real-time detection, reporting and removal of illegal broadcasts.

“In particular, we are helping the league to develop a software, which would make the reporting process easier and faster,” said Luca Colombo, Meta’s Country Director for Italy, at the time.

Spain has also stepped up its enforcement efforts. LaLiga points to “Operation 404,” a joint initiative with the Alianza Contra la Piratería Audiovisual that led to Latin America’s first court-ordered blocking of the Magis TV app. The operation also shut down more than 675 websites and 14 illegal apps, with arrests and seizures taking place in Argentina and Brazil.

Why fans are turning to piracy

While LaLiga frames piracy as a digital security threat, for many fans, the motivation is rooted in cost and access. The rising price of watching football, combined with restrictions on match availability, has driven supporters to seek cheaper alternatives online.

Research shared with Insider Sport from SeatPeak shows searches for “where to watch Premier League for free” spiked by 160% in the past month. 

The surge comes as UK TV subscription costs to follow the biggest games have risen by 60% since 2020. A recent proposal to make at least 10 Premier League matches free-to-air was rejected in Parliament by 340 votes to 86.

Even with those rising costs, UK fans are not getting full access. This season, supporters will be able to watch just 267 of the 380 Premier League matches due to the 3pm Saturday blackout, while fans in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can watch every single game live.

According to SeatPick’s analysis, UK supporters are paying the highest price worldwide for the Premier League, spending £564 a season, around £50 less than the average season ticket, for roughly 30% fewer games than international audiences. 

The disparity in access and value has left many fans questioning the fairness of the system, particularly when the domestic product is marketed more cheaply abroad. The frustration has only been heightened by recent moves to stage domestic league matches in other countries, as LaLiga announced earlier this week. 

Source link