Decision on broadcast of match to Serbia today

RTE is preparing to provide live coverage to Serbian television of the Republic of Ireland's football match against Yugoslavia at Lansdowne Road tomorrow week, despite the Cabinet's fear that the fixture may prove a propaganda coup for the Belgrade regime.

Irish football officials are to meet today to decide whether RTE should provide the pictures of the match to Serbian television. A Government spokesman said RTE knew of Ministers' concern about the public relations value of the event to Belgrade.

"One reason it was decided that no Government Minister would attend the match was because of concerns that it would be used for propaganda purposes by the Serbs. That is still a concern and RTE are aware of that," he said. The match is important to the authorities in Belgrade - particularly after the indictment for war crimes of President Slobodan Milosevic. The regime needs the match to take place and be shown, as an indication that the country is not isolated and can maintain relations with non-NATO states such as Ireland.

However, NATO yesterday severed the satellite link which allows Serbian State Television, RTS, to broadcast to viewers in Yugoslavia, a move which could make the re-broadcasting of the match within Yugoslavia difficult, if not impossible.

RTE has exclusive rights to broadcast the Republic's home qualifying matches under a contract with the Football Association of Ireland. But the decision to transmit the pictures outside the State rests with the FAI. RTE said yesterday it would be proceeding with coverage as planned following last Tuesday's decision by UEFA, the governing body of European football, that the game will go ahead.

"There is still the public interest in the game and for that reason we have to cover it," said a spokesperson for the RTE sports department. "But we won't be shying away from any demonstrations that may surround the game."

Despite the Cabinet's calls for the match not to go ahead, the Ministers responsible for sport and broadcasting have both avoided commenting publicly on whether RTE should supply coverage to Yugoslavia. The Minister for Sport, Dr McDaid, said the question of televising the game was not within his remit. A spokesman for the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms Sile de Valera, said the issue was "primarily a matter for RTE and the FAI".

The FAI president, Mr Pat Quigley, said yesterday the association would conclude the details of the coverage at this morning's meeting.