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Premier League officials are in talks with cyber-security companies to block illegal streaming of matches online.

Bosses want to prevent fans watching games on the internet due to the huge fees paid by broadcasters Sky and BT Sport.

Discussions are centred around a virtual barrier which would prevent users in the UK accessing streams from overseas, according to The Times.

The Premier League have received £5.1billion from Sky and BT for the rights to show fixtures for the next three seasons, a 71 per cent increase on the previous deal.

(Image: Getty)

Users watching illegal streams has risen sharply in recent years, with the Saturday 3pm fixtures the main cause for concern.

No live football is shown in the UK for those fixtures, but are broadcast worldwide, with some of the more popular broadcasters based in Australia, New Zealand and the UAE.

An estimated one million viewers watch Premier League football through illegal streams each week.