The number of internet streams showing matches illegally has increased, say some of the UK's biggest sporting bodies.

The Premier League, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Lawn Tennis Association all believe their sports have a problem.

In most cases, the services are taken down almost as soon as they are put up.

At least 80,000 illegal streams have been removed in two years, according to internet monitoring company NetResult.

The Department of Business says it's not a criminal offence to watch them but you could be sued in a civil court.

It's increasing and it's getting more and more problematic for us as an organisation John Perera England and Wales Cricket Board

Twenty-seven-year-old Niggs, from Leicester, says it's the only way he can watch his beloved team.

He said: "I'm a big Liverpool fan and ticket availability, and the cost of travelling, match days and all that, it's too much.

"So sometimes, being a big fan, I want to watch as many matches as possible.

"It's a grey area at the moment, because unlike downloading music, nothing is stored on your computer.

"Sky Sports doesn't always show them, so you have to find alternative means to find them.

"[Broadcasters] could show more of the games people like, a dedicated service, perhaps for a small fee. But if I can get hold of every single Liverpool match, then I don't mind paying."

The Premier League says it has already taken action against sites around the world.

It told Newsbeat: "It's important to remember that with illegal streaming money flows straight out of sport."

'Diddling Cricket'

John Perera, from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), says if people continue to use the illegal streams there will be a lack of money in the sport.

He said: "We're a non-profit-making organisation here with responsibility for running cricket in this country - for all the major teams, junior teams and recreational cricket.

One Day Internationals England v Pakistan 2010 Fourth match at Lords: 95 illegal streams identified and 80 taken down.



Fifth match at the Rosebowl: 83 illegal streams identified and 72 taken down.

"So people who are actually not paying for access to the streams are diddling cricket."

Mr Perera says tackling the problem is hard because many of the services are based abroad, in Asia.

"It's increasing and it's getting more and more problematic for us as an organisation," he admits.

Mr Perera acknowledges ticket prices are a concern for fans, but says there's only so much the ECB can do.

"What we will be doing is looking at ticket prices across the board in the future," he said.

"[But] that's really down to the grounds themselves that run the ticketing pricing and the policies."

Internet solutions company NetResult removes the illegal streams.

Christopher Stokes, who heads up the company, says it's easy for the streams to be uploaded.

He said: "Just in the same way you can cut and paste a Word document, you can cut and paste any audiovisual content and put it online."