The English Premier League and the fight against 'pirated football' in Vietnam

The immense appeal of the Premier League makes it a prime target for illegal internet streaming services.

In Vietnam, hundreds of illegal websites and IPTV systems have streamed Premier League matches live. However, recent legal developments, from the BestBuy IPTV case to the takedown of networks like Xôi Lạc TV, indicate a new, more intense phase in the battle to protect football broadcasting rights.

The Premier League is considered the most exciting football league on the planet. Its matches are broadcast to nearly 200 countries and territories, with viewership reaching billions each season.

In Vietnam, the league's appeal is particularly strong. Matches involving the 'Big Four'—Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City—consistently rank among the most-watched sports programs on television and online. Yet, this very popularity has also made the Premier League a 'gold mine' for pirate streaming services.

For many years, illegal websites and IPTV systems have copied signals from rights-holding broadcasters and re-streamed them online. Users could watch for free or at very low cost. According to authorities, in just the first four rounds of a Premier League season, 239 pirate websites were detected, with 3,213 free streaming links for 39 matches. Many of these sites took live feeds from legitimate rights holders like K+, FPT Play, or TV360 and illegally redistributed them.

A significant turning point in Vietnam's fight against copyright infringement occurred on April 19, 2024, when the Hanoi People's Court sentenced the operator of the BestBuy IPTV pirate streaming system.

The court's verdict sentenced the defendant to: a 30-month suspended prison term; a fine of 100 million VND (approximately $4,000 USD); confiscation of over 615 million VND in illegal profits (approximately $24,000 USD); and additional compensation of about $12,000 USD to the rights holder.

BestBuy IPTV had illegally provided thousands of international TV channels, including Premier League matches, to thousands of subscribers. This case is regarded as the first criminal prosecution in Vietnam related to illegal online streaming, setting an important precedent for handling digital copyright infringement.

While BestBuy IPTV was a paid IPTV service, Xôi Lạc TV was one of the most notorious free football streaming websites for many years. According to regulators, Xôi Lạc TV operated under various domain names, illegally streaming major tournaments like the Premier League, Champions League, and matches of the Vietnamese national team... A major match could attract hundreds of thousands of simultaneous viewers on this platform.

Experts state that sites like Xôi Lạc TV are not merely about pirating football; they are often linked to other illicit activities such as gambling ads, online scams, and various forms of cybercrime.

In early 2026, a notable development occurred when major pirate football streaming networks like Xôi Lạc, Vebo, and Thapcam suddenly ceased operations. From February 2, 2026, all sites in this network stopped broadcasting matches as before, and their related social media accounts halted updates. Experts believe this is the result of a recent crackdown and investigation into these illegal streaming networks.

However, this battle is far from over. Pirate sites often have a rapid ability to 'resurrect' by changing domains or moving servers overseas. To combat piracy, the Premier League has deployed advanced tracking technologies.

One crucial tool is digital watermarking, an identifier embedded into the broadcast signal. When a match is streamed illegally, the system can precisely pinpoint the source of the leak.

Furthermore, the Premier League collaborates with internet service providers, rights holders, and law enforcement agencies across many countries to detect and shut down pirate services. Concurrently, the "Boot Out Piracy" campaign is run to raise awareness among fans.

According to experts, the scourge of 'pirated football' not only harms rights holders but also impacts the development of the sports content market. If pirate services persist, broadcasters will find it difficult to invest in expensive rights like those for the Premier League. Ultimately, the fans themselves would be the ones to lose out.

Therefore, the fight against copyright infringement is not just a Premier League issue, but a major challenge for the entire sports industry in the digital age.