Clubs' decision prompt RTE to focus on GAA

Just three weeks into RTÉ's new soccer-based sports programme, Sunday Sport, there was disquiet among Eircom League officials last night when it became known this weekend's edition would lead with highlights of the O'Byrne Cup football final between Carlow and Wicklow.

Leading officials in the RTÉ sports department are reported to have become frustrated in recent weeks with the reluctance of clubs to move games to Sunday afternoons in order to facilitate the highlights programme.

Last week Finn Harps declined to put their FAI Cup game against Shelbourne back from Saturday evening and this week the Dubliners have similarly snubbed a request to play St Patrick's Athletic on Sunday in front of the cameras. This latest decision appears to have prompted RTÉ to switch their attention to the Gaelic football match in Carlow.

League commissioner Roy Dooney conceded the situation could become a "massive problem" that comes down to the lack of money available to compensate clubs for losses incurred at the gate.

"Clubs should be thinking about the greater needs of the league but they don't want to lose out", he said. "It's a difficult situation but I think RTÉ have a valid point."

Meanwhile, the inactivity of the Republic of Ireland and many of the other leading football nations during December means the top 30 in FIFA's world-ranking list is unchanged for the past month.

France, Argentina and Brazil continue to lead the list with the Republic of Ireland remaining joint 17th with Denmark. Ireland's World Cup group rivals, Germany, are also unchanged at number 12 while Saudi Arabia are joint 31st with Poland, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago. Cameroon have moved up one place to 37th.

FIFA WORLD RANKINGS: Top 10: 1 France 812 pts; 2 Argentina 801; 3 Brazil 793; 4 Portugal 741; 5 Colombia 739; 6 Italy 734; 7 Spain 730; 8 Netherlands 722; 9 Mexico 714; 10 England 712; 17 Republic of Ireland and Denmark 672.