It is unlikely that the controversy over the sale of the rights to Irish soccer internationals to Sky Television will be resolved today after it emerged that the FAI needs more time to assess its legal position.
The Cabinet is due to meet today and it had been thought the FAI-Sky deal would have been on the agenda. However, it emerged last night that FAI officials had been in contact with the Government saying the association needed more time to get "full legal opinion".
At a meeting with the FAI last weekend, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern said the Government could force the broadcasting of the games on terrestrial stations, such as RTÉ and TV3.
It is understood Mr Ahern hopes the FAI can work out a compromise with Sky - although the satellite broadcaster now seems more likely to pursue the rights to away games as well, rather than step out of the FAI deal.
Under the deal, Sky is to pay €7.5 million for the rights to the domestic matches.
Another alternative is for the FAI to wait for the Government to ban satellite broadcasting of the games since it would be likely to face a breach of contract suit from Sky if it reneges on its commitments.
All sides have been carefully studying legal advice since last weekend.
It is understood that the FAI is examining whether its initial legal advice was at odds with that of the Attorney General's advice to the Government, which is that the home games can be listed, under an EU directive, as events which must remain on terrestrial television.