Public forum on FAI-Sky contract

Public forum on FAI-Sky contract (irish independent)

THE main protagonists in the controversy over the FAI's sale to Sky of the rights to Ireland's home soccer matches will come face-to-face publicly next week.

They will participate in a one-day consultation session on the designation of events for free-to-air broadcast to be held at Dublin Castle on Monday.

The event will be opened by Communications Minister Dermot Ahern who embarked on an extensive consultation process in the wake of the controversy which blew up after the FAI's €7.5m deal with Sky for Ireland's home matches.

Meanwhile, RTE confirmed yesterday that it will have exclusive live coverage of Ireland's first Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia in Moscow on September 7.

"We're very pleased to be able to bring Ireland's first competitive match since the World Cup exclusively to RTE viewers, who can watch it in their own homes on free-to-air television," head of sport Niall Cogley said.

Mr Ahern said last night he felt the conference would serve a useful purpose in giving the general public and the organisations concerned the opportunity to make their case.

While Sky has not been specifically invited to take part, it is expected the satellite broadcaster will be represented.

It is also expected that the major sporting organisations, including the FAI, GAA and IRFU, will attend the televised session.

Chairing the session will be the media editor of the London Times, Raymond Snoddy. The session is open to everybody but those intending to attend must pre-register.

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Looks like RTE will have no problems televising this event.

:rolleyes: