A HAMPSHIRE landlady has taken a step forward in her fight to use foreign broadcasters to show football in her pub.

Karen Murphy is attempting to overturn a conviction for using a Greek satellite station to show Premier League matches.

Rather than using Sky, which has the rights to screen the Premier League in the UK, she used the Greek station Nova's coverage in her pub, which was cheaper than the equivalent Sky package.

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Today, the European Court of Justice's Advocate General has said in a report that Sky does not have the authority to prevent broadcasters from other European nations being received and aired in Britain.

Her solicitor, Paul Dixon, said: "Today the advocate general found powerfully in favour of Mrs Murphy, which was a huge boost for our case.

"But we are being cautious, as this is only an opinion and the judges do not ultimately have to follow it."

A final ruling on the case between Ms Murphy and UK Media Protection Services (MPS) is due to be made later this year.

Ms Murphy was convicted in 2007, after showing a Premier League match via the Nova service in her pub, the Red, White and Blue, in Southsea.

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