Illegal Premier League streaming gang ordered to repay £3.75m after record convictions

Five members of a gang behind one of the world’s largest illegal football streaming operations have been ordered to repay £3.75 million following court proceedings in the United Kingdom.

The group, led by Mark Gould, had previously been sentenced in May 2023 to a combined total of more than 30 years in prison for running the незаконный service known as Flawless TV. The platform illegally streamed matches from the Premier League to over 50,000 customers through a network of resellers and staff.

At Derby Crown Court, Gould, who was originally handed an 11-year sentence, has now been ordered to repay £2.35 million within three months or face an additional 10 years in prison. Four other members of the group have also been instructed to return a combined total of more than £1.4 million or risk further jail time.

The operation generated over £7 million between 2016 and 2021, making the confiscation order one of the largest ever issued in the UK against an illegal streaming network.

Funds recovered from the case will be split between the UK Treasury and the authorities involved in the investigation and prosecution, including the courts and financial investigators.

The case followed a rare private prosecution led by the Premier League, supported by organisations such as Hammersmith & Fulham Council and the intellectual property protection body FACT.

Premier League director of legal enforcement, Stefan Sergot, said the confiscation reinforces efforts to ensure those behind illegal streaming do not benefit financially. Authorities also warned that the scale of the penalties should act as a deterrent to others considering similar offences.