FAI deal sign of greedy Ireland - consumer chief

The four-year Football Association of Ireland deal with Sky Television to broadcast exclusive live rights to the Republic of …

The four-year Football Association of Ireland deal with Sky Television to broadcast exclusive live rights to the Republic of Ireland’s home games has been described as another example of "greedy Ireland".

The chairman of the Consumer Association said today there had been an extremely strong reaction against the deal which "effectively was charging people for what had been up until now a free service".

Mr Michael Kilcoyne told ireland.comhis association was urging people to be aware of ways they could express their dissatisfaction with the deal. He said the FAI could be isolated if people chose not to buy its products.

He also suggested that the Irish Rugby Football Union should stop making Landsdowne Road available for soccer internationals.

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A postcard campaign is also under consideration.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein’s Mr Martin Ferris has called on the Government to review its participation in the National Stadium and described the FAI deal as a "betrayal of the fans"

"The sale of TV rights to Rupert Murdoch's Sky by the FAI is a betrayal of Irish soccer fans. Just last week the Dáil voted a special supplementary estimate to aid sporting bodies, including the FAI," he said