RTE next season

**Mr A** · 10/04/2014, 1:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

Your original point was "Football is generally a joke when it comes to drug testing, the issue simply isn't taken seriously"

It is not clear to me why the PFAI defending a member endorses that assertion.

Similarly, the length of the ban, which was imposed by The Irish Sport Council and not football authorities.

Many commentators believed that the 8 month ban was anything but a light ban , considering the findings that the judging panel determined that he did not intend to enhance his sporting performance but found him guilty of "carelessness".

So in what way does one guy getting caught and getting what in the likes of cycling or athletics would be considered a very light ban contradicts my position that anti doping efforts in football in general are a joke? OK maybe the guy was careless, but he has responsibility for what's in his system, simple as that.

Does anyone know how often LOI players are tested? How about on non matchdays? And are there any blood tests? Basically- is there any real deterrent for a young player who might feel they can make it across the water if they just upped their game a bit?

In general, I don't think football authorities want to ask those questions. No (or few) positive tests doesn't mean much is the tests are few and far between and so basic only the brain-dead would get caught out.

**Ezeikial** · 10/04/2014, 2:27 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

So in what way does one guy getting caught and getting what in the likes of cycling or athletics would be considered a very light ban contradicts my position that anti doping efforts in football in general are a joke? OK maybe the guy was careless, but he has responsibility for what's in his system, simple as that.

As far as I know it is the Irish Sports Council who are responsible for determining the length of bans and not the various sporting bodies.

Originally Posted by Mr A

Does anyone know how often LOI players are tested? How about on non matchdays? And are there any blood tests? Basically- is there any real deterrent for a young player who might feel they can make it across the water if they just upped their game a bit?

In general, I don't think football authorities want to ask those questions. No (or few) positive tests doesn't mean much is the tests are few and far between and so basic only the brain-dead would get caught out.

The details are available here

http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Med...ual-Review.pdf
http://www.independent.ie/sport/two-...-30170666.html

**Mr A** · 10/04/2014, 3:00 PM

Cheers- some interesting stuff there which supports my suspicion. 46 tests in total. None involved blood. The FAI did not pay for any extra tests at any stage. It's not clear whether the out of competition ones were in or out of season or a mix.

The chances of an individual player getting caught, especially if they are reasonably well informed and careful are next to zero.

Interesting that in 2013 on 3 occasions tests could not be performed on football teams because they were not training where indicated in whereabouts programme.

**Pablo Escobar** · 10/04/2014, 4:52 PM

Originally Posted by wonder88

You wouldn't expect Foley or most of the Dublin based media to know too much about soccer in Cork, a bit unfair I think.

Why is he giving his opinion then?

**adamd164** · 10/04/2014, 6:28 PM

I'd say most of the national media hadn't a clue what to expect from us this year. As well as the few well known signings (Elding, Davoren, Dennehy, etc.), Caulfield has promoted quite a few players from our u19s, which isn't a bad thing because they've been very good and won 3 in a row at that level. But they wouldn't be household names (yet). Coupled to that we added Mark O'Sullivan up front who was Avondale's top scorer for the past number of years. The vast majority of the squad is made up of Cork players.

**wonder88** · 10/04/2014, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Pablo Escobar

Why is he giving his opinion then?

Because he is getting paid to do so I suppose. I was trying to be a bit sarcastic, if you see the rest of my post; re Pat Doolan I tried to point out that those who write/comment on the LoI should at least do a bit of research and deal in reality not fantasy.

**Charlie Darwin** · 10/04/2014, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by wonder88

Because he is getting paid to do so I suppose. I was trying to be a bit sarcastic, if you see the rest of my post; re Pat Doolan I tried to point out that those who write/comment on the LoI should at least do a bit of research and deal in reality not fantasy.

To be fair to Dolan, he knows the LOI as well as anyone, he just chooses to ignore reality when he goes off on one. He presumably still reckons all LOI clubs should be playing in 20,000 seater stadiums.

**legendz** · 12/04/2014, 9:24 AM

Originally Posted by adamd164

Cork City have started putting highlights of all matches on YouTube so it must be an option to clubs.

http://www.corkcityfc.ie/home/2014/0...hts-available/

Fair play! Credit where it's due! I note on the site they thank Soccer Republic. That's the way to use social media to promote your games. People have to get accustomed to seeing a team play if they're to possibly go to a game. Positive move.

**oriel** · 13/04/2014, 8:34 AM

Does anyone have a list of the next series of matches that RTE will be showing live on tv?

**Dodge** · 13/04/2014, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Does anyone have a list of the next series of matches that RTE will be showing live on tv?

gas man

**oriel** · 13/04/2014, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

gas man

So I take it none planned until after the GAA season now?

**Dodge** · 13/04/2014, 1:43 PM

None are planned. They're contracted to show 10 more.

Setanta live games due to start in July

**Charlie Darwin** · 13/04/2014, 1:46 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

They're contracted to show 10 more.

gas man

**nigel-harps1954** · 14/04/2014, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

None are planned. They're contracted to show 10 more.

That'll presumably include the two semi-finals and the final of the FAI Cup too. So, seven live League games, most likely all in the last few weeks of the season, after the GAA is over and done in September.

**Dodge** · 14/04/2014, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

That'll presumably include the two semi-finals and the final of the FAI Cup too. So, seven live League games, most likely all in the last few weeks of the season, after the GAA is over and done in September.

That's what happened last year. Showed 12 league games and 3 in the Cup. According to the Indo last week the contract is for 15 so adds up.

**Charlie Darwin** · 14/04/2014, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

That's what happened last year. Showed 12 league games and 3 in the Cup. According to the Indo last week the contract is for 15 so adds up.

Wasn't the contract for 30-odd the last couple of years?

**Dodge** · 14/04/2014, 1:34 PM

That was announced a few years ago "rising to 30 per season" but I presume things changed pretty quickly

**colonelwest** · 15/04/2014, 8:01 PM

That contract was up at the end of last year wasn't it? Plus the whole rising to 30 games was quietly forgotten about over in Montrose. It was tied to the national team but their rights are centralised now under uefa for the new deal so any loi deal is seperate now.

**adamd164** · 17/04/2014, 7:39 PM

Looking forward to Setanta's coverage of games starting, they still do a decent job even with obvious cuts to the budget.

**Charlie Darwin** · 17/04/2014, 8:06 PM

Originally Posted by adamd164

Looking forward to Setanta's coverage of games starting, they still do a decent job even with obvious cuts to the budget.

Setanta do it the right way I think. Skeleton crew, one presenter and analyst and maybe an extra reporter at the game. I wonder if half the reason RTE hate showing games is because they seem to be contractually to send about 50 people out every time they cover a match.