Else Beekman
Watching LaLiga matches for free through illegal IPTV might seem like a clever way to skip a subscription. But Spain is cracking down, and those streams could soon cost you more than you bargained for.
Italy has already taken the lead in cracking down illegal football streaming. More than 2,200 people there have been fined for using pirated IPTV services. The penalties start at €154. For those caught again, the fines can rise to €5,000. That’s not a scare tactic — it’s already happening.
LaLiga ramps up action
LaLiga’s head of content protection, Melcior Soler, recently confirmed that the organisation is targeting illegal football streaming via IPTV at every level. From pirate signal distributors to the platforms that carry them, and now, the users.
Meanwhile, Javier Albornoz, director of LaLiga Tech’s anti-piracy unit, told El Confidencial that the strategy goes beyond blocking streams. It includes tracking financial flows and building criminal cases. The message is firm: consuming pirated football is no longer invisible, and enforcement is no longer a bluff.
Here in Spain, LaLiga is stepping up the fight. Last year, it gained legal powers to go after viewers, not just providers. Now it’s actively working with telecom companies to trace IP addresses linked to illegal streams. If you’re watching without paying, chances are someone’s watching you.
This isn’t just about football rights, it’s about money, fairness, and the future of broadcasting. Piracy chips away at the industry. And LaLiga is making it clear: enough is enough.
Italy’s tech solution: a warning sign
Spain hasn’t started fining users yet, but it may only be a matter of time. Italy’s use of Piracy Shield shows what’s possible. The system scans the web for illegal streams and can shut them down in under 30 minutes. No need for a judge. No paperwork. Just fast, automated action.
It goes further too. Piracy Shield doesn’t stop at IPTV. It targets VPNs and DNS services used to sneak past content blocks. If you think a VPN makes you invisible, think again.
Could this come to Spain?
Yes. And probably sooner than many expect. Piracy Shield has given Italy the upper hand in this digital arms race. Spain is watching closely. The success of the Italian model may push other countries, including Spain, to adopt similar systems. And let’s face it: if the technology exists and it works, why wouldn’t they?
Guardia civil shuts down Spain’s largest illegal streaming service
Viewers are now in the spotlight
People often think authorities only care about big pirate networks. Not anymore. Italy is proving that even end users are fair game. Watch illegally, and you could get a letter, or a fine.
In Spain, LaLiga has made clear it’s not just going after the source, but also the audience. If you’re streaming a LaLiga match for free, you’re not flying under the radar. You’re on it.
A VPN won’t keep you safe
Many users still believe a VPN protects them. That may have worked once. But systems like Piracy Shield are designed to spot and block even disguised traffic. In Italy, VPN users were fined too.
Even if your location is hidden, your access to the stream isn’t. The system can track the content and the source — and that’s enough.
Illegal football streaming, don’t risk it
That link promising every LaLiga match, no ads, no fees? It’s not a loophole. it’s a liability. Spain hasn’t started fining viewers yet, but all signs suggest it could follow Italy’s lead.
What feels like a free match today could end up being the most expensive of the season. Think twice before you stream.
Sources: 20Minutos, El Confidencial