Sir, - The FAI is the most successful sports organisation in Ireland. Its international team has qualified for three of the last four World Cup finals. The team is now rated by FIFA in the top 20 - a remarkable achievement for a small association.
In Ireland the FAI administers a record number of leagues and has more active participants than any other organisation. In the main the FAI does all this in a quiet, efficient way, which clearly is not newsworthy and for which it receives no credit.
In contrast, RTÉ, which over the years but particularly in the past two months, has gorged itself on the success of the FAI, is licking its wounds because the FAI refuses to subsidise the broadcaster's coverage of football. Rather than look inwards at its own shortcomings, RTÉ is engaged in a daily propaganda campaign against the FAI.
Stick to your guns, FAI, and retain your long-established independence from populist politicians and parasitical media organisations. And congratulations on a job well done. - Yours, etc.,
PADDY KILCOYNE, Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4.
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Sir, - As a supporter of the Irish international soccer team for the past 30 years (good and bad times) I believe that the decision of the FAI to sell the television rights for home international marches is a betrayal of ordinary Irish fans.
The decision, which will mean that the vast majority of Irish fans who have loyally supported the Irish team during the recent World Cup and previous competitions will now have to pay substantial amounts of money to the Murdoch-owned Sky group if they wish to see live television coverage, is a scandal.
The FAI should not forget that it will be the taxpayers of this country who, through Government grants, will facilitate the further development of soccer including the construction of a stadium.
Over the years I have been purchasing four stand tickets for each international match at Lansdowne Road. In the light of this decision, I do not intend to continue my booking until this decision has been overturned.
I call on the Taoiseach and his Ministers, who seem to be crying crocodile tears over this deal, not to accept their complimentary tickets for future matches until such time as the contracts are renegotiated. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr SEAN RYAN, TD, Burrow Road, Portrane, Co Dublin.
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Sir, - FAI now stands for: "Fans Aren't Important". - Yours, etc.,
TONY DUNNE, Whitecliff, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
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Sir, - Like Peter Ryan (July 11th), I have cancelled my Sky subscription. Sky is currently earning €60 million from Ireland alone. What more can I say? - Yours, etc.,
HELEN BUTLER, Castletown, Athboy, Co Meath.