Phone group 3 in talks over sponsoring Irish soccer team

MOBILE PHONE group 3 is believed to be in advanced discussions with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) about sponsoring the Irish soccer team in a deal understood to be valued at more than €2 million a year.

The group would replace Eircom, the FAI’s long-time sponsor, which is believed to have decided not to renew its deal with the association when it expires on December 31st.

A spokeswoman for 3 declined to comment on whether or not it was in talks with the FAI but said: “We do look at [sponsorship] opportunities from time to time.”

In a statement, the FAI said: “The FAI can confirm that it has held discussions in recent months with a number of interested parties in relation to the sponsorship which runs until the end of this year. These discussions are active and confidential and the association will not be making any further comment in the interim.”

The FAI is believed to be seeking up to €2.4 million a year as a sponsorship fee for the national team, which is managed by Italian Giovanni Trappatoni, and will kick off its European Championship qualifying campaign in September.

This would include bonus payments for qualifying for major tournaments and tickets for games at the new Aviva stadium.

This would be a considerable step-up from the Eircom deal, which is thought to be worth about €1.5 million a year and would make it one of the biggest sponsorships in Irish sport.

Any new sponsor would also be expected to provide matching funding in advertising and marketing to fully leverage the benefits of the sponsorship deal.

Owned by multi-national group Hutchison Whampoa, 3 launched here in 2005.

It has about 550,000 mobile phone customers here, placing it behind Vodafone, O2 and Meteor, which is owned by Eircom.

It won a State contract to operate the national broadband scheme, aimed at bringing fast internet services to rural parts of the country.

The firm is already involved in sports sponsorhip here, including the Irish Open golf tournament, which tees off on July 29th this year in Killarney and has a prize fund of €3 million.

This is the second year it will sponsor the Irish Open. The deal is renewed annually. It is also involved with Waterford’s inter-county GAA teams, League of Ireland football club Waterford United and some half-marathon events in athletics.