Premier League stars help raise awareness of the dangers of illegal streams in Boot Out Piracy campaign
With the Premier League 2024/25 season under way, the Premier League, in collaboration with its local broadcast partner Astro, is continuing its action to educate consumers about the dangers of accessing pirated content and to combat illegal streaming in Malaysia.
The League’s ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign for this season brings together some of the biggest names in football — Alisson Becker (Liverpool FC), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves) and Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) — to address the dangers of illegal streaming. Through a series of videos distributed across digital platforms, these players speak directly to Malaysian fans, warning them of the significant risks associated with accessing Premier League content through unauthorised channels.
This campaign follows a recent study by cybersecurity expert Professor Paul Watters, which highlights the serious risks associated with illegal sports streaming. Cybercriminals exploit illicit sports streaming sites, putting Malaysian consumers at risk of identity theft and fraud through browser hijacking, malware, and misleading ads.
A key concern is the volume of high-risk advertisements, with more than three-quarters (78%) of ads on piracy sites classified as dangerous. These ads often lead to malware or fraudulent schemes, further jeopardising the safety of consumers who access these platforms. According to the data, 36% of piracy websites present a likelihood of encountering malicious activity, such as viruses or phishing schemes.
Premier League General Counsel Kevin Plumb said: “We know how passionate our fans are in Malaysia and across Asia, staying up late to follow the latest Premier League action. We also know the risks and dangers of watching matches through illegal streams and want supporters to enjoy Premier League content in the best quality and safest way through authorised sources.
“As well as promoting important messaging, we are working harder than ever with Malaysia’s law enforcement authorities and our partners at Astro to enforce legal measures and take action against piracy. This includes collaborating with Astro to identify and shut down piracy syndicates and working together to address the distribution of illegal streaming devices.
“We encourage fans to protect their online safety and to enjoy Premier League matches via authorised platforms, which will provide the best viewing experience.”
Professor Paul Watters remarked: “These findings should serve as a wake-up call for Malaysian consumers. By accessing piracy sites, users are not only engaging in illegal activity but also putting themselves at risk of cyberattacks and financial loss. We urge the public to use legitimate platforms and prioritise their digital safety. The Premier League’s Boot Out Piracy campaign helps make these risks clear to fans in Malaysia.”
As the exclusive broadcaster of the Premier League 2024/2025 Season in Malaysia, Astro plays a pivotal role in the ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign.
Astro’s Director of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Rita Irina Abd Wahab remarked: “Piracy robs the industry of its lifeblood and puts consumers at risk, often without them knowing it. At Astro, we fight back through action and alliances—working with law enforcement and partners like the Premier League to shut down illegal streams and protect our viewers. The Boot Out Piracy campaign is more than an awareness campaign. It’s about changing habits, building trust, and ensuring fans enjoy content the right way, with quality and safety they can count on.”
In an August settlement, Thaqwa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (A restaurant chain) agreed to pay RM221,773.20 a subsidiary of Astro, for illegally broadcasting Astro content in several of its restaurant outlets.
This settlement is part of Astro's broader effort to protect its intellectual property rights and combat unauthorised use of its content. In a statement, Astro highlighted that several other cases of illegal broadcasts that have been pursued, including:
- A 22-year-old individual in Ipoh was fined RM10,000 for selling Android boxes loaded with Astro content.
- Two men in Seremban faced similar charges, with one pleading not guilty and released on RM7,000 bail, while the other pleaded guilty and was fined RM10,000.
The Boot Out Piracy campaign will be showcased across broadcast channels and social media platforms in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam in the upcoming months.
Launch of Boot Out Piracy Campaign x BizOne Watch Party
On October 26, Astro officially launched the Boot Out Piracy campaign in Malaysia at an exciting BizOne Watch Party, held at a well-known ‘nasi kandar’ restaurant, here in Kuala Lumpur, during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton.
The event brought together 250 football fans, law enforcement officers from the Royal Malaysian Police’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department and special guests, including the Parliament Member of Wangsa Maju, Ts. Zahir Hassan and Lembah Jaya Assemblyman, Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Al Haddad who spearheads the #LayanOriJanganCuri anti-piracy campaign.
The launch not only celebrated football but also spotlighted the critical issue of content piracy.
Attendees were engaged in discussions on the hidden dangers of illegal streaming, including cybersecurity risks and financial threats that many consumers remain unaware of.
With the presence of key stakeholders from law enforcement and local government, the event underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle piracy and protect the entertainment ecosystem.
Through this initiative, Astro reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding intellectual property, educating the public, and ensuring that viewers enjoy world-class sports content safely through legitimate channels.