By Cian Duffy
July 12 2002

The Irish government is allowed under the laws of the European Union to cancel the Football Association of Irelands television deal with SKY... As some of you may know, the European Union allows its member states, which include the Republic of Ireland, to make up a list of sports which are ‘Protected’, e.g., must be shown on free-to-air analogue terrestrial television. The Irish government never enacted this law, but the EU has pointed out a loophole that allows sports to be put on it retrospectively. The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, who is a known Ireland and Manchester United fan, is meeting with both SKY and the FAI. If the law is enacted, either SKY will have to surrender the rights to show the games to Irish subscribers and let RTÉ, TG4 or TV3 get them, or will have to show them at the same time as the terrestrial channels.

This is potentially very good news for Irish soccer fans without SKY or cable access, but not necessarily good news for the FAI, who may be asked by SKY to pay back all or some of the €7,500,000 paid to them.

Other sports that may be protected include Irish rugby internationals, G.A.A. sports, and Eircom League soccer