FAI to profit handsomely, but fans may not like being hit on the double

2010 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN:THE REPUBLIC of Ireland's continuing challenge for World Cup qualification should ensure an FAI profit approaching €15 million from the October games against Italy and Montenegro.

The game against the world champions was always likely to be a major money spinner for the association, but with Giovanni Trapattoni’s side still pushing their rivals for top spot in Group Eight, television rights and gate receipts should be considerably up on what might otherwise have been expected.

The association confirmed yesterday that tickets for the two qualifiers, scheduled for October 10th and 14th respectively, will be bundled with those wishing to see Italy in action on the Saturday obliged to pay for the Monetengro match four days later too.

The news is bound to cause some resentment amongst supporters as even the organisation’s chief executive John Delaney has admitted in the past that many fans from outside Dublin make it to midweek games in the capital and yet if they want to see Andrea Pirlo and co they will have to hand over a combined €100, €140 or €170 per person, depending on the category of seats they buy, regardless of whether they can attend the second of the two games.

If the move doesn’t backfire for the association, though, it should prove highly profitable.

The organisation’s biggest ever take on a game would have been the European Championship qualifier against Germany in October, 2007 which, with around €5 million paid for the German TV rights and more than €4 million in ticket sales, grossed a total of some €12 million, of which almost €10 million was estimated to be profit.

This time around, the game will, if Ireland can win in Cyprus at least, be significantly more important and that may, even in more difficult times for media and advertising revenues, be reflected in the organisation’s take.

Unless Ireland finish second in the group, the game against Montenegro should then be the Irish team’s last competitive outing at Croke Park for the foreseeable future, but a place in the play-offs would deliver another significant pay day for the FAI with France, Russia and familiar rivals Switzerland amongst the teams currently on course to be competing in mid-November for one of the four additional places at next summer’s finals tournament up for grabs.

In the wake of Saturday’s draw in Sofia, the Irish team’s grip on at least second place in Group Eight looks relatively secure, but that would not necessarily guarantee them a place in the play-offs as one of the nine second-placed sides will end up missing out.

The ranking order will be decided when all the final tables have been decided by excluding the results of the second-placed sides in the six-team groups against the team that finishes last in each group.

The eight countries will then be drawn against each other, with a decision yet to be taken on whether they will be seeded.

After the weekend, Trapattoni’s side lie sixth of nine second-placed sides, but there is a large number of variables to be taken into consideration and so a great deal could change between now and October when the final round of games is played.

For a start, the identity of the last-placed side in Ireland’s group would be of considerable significance in determining the Republic of Ireland’s fate in the event that Robbie Keane and co do finish as runners-up.

The Irish have taken six points from six against Georgia and three from three so far against Cyprus, but having already dropped two points against Montenegro it would currently suit best if the latter finished last in the group.

If the Montenegrins had not come from 2-0 behind against Cyprus at the weekend, indeed, and lost by that score instead then Ireland would currently be the top ranked of the nine second-placed teams.

Another factor to be taken into consideration is the significant potential for change in the line-up of second-placed sides.

Critically, for instance, the lowest-ranked side at present, Croatia, is actually unlikely to hang on to the runners-up spot in Group Six.

Belarus are just two points behind, but, like the Croatians, they have already played group minnows Andorra twice.

Third-placed Ukraine, on the other hand, have yet to take on the tiny mountain state at all, but could still be joint second with Croatia by close of business tomorrow night if they beat Kazakhstan at home.

On the basis of their performance to date in the qualifiers, they would currently lie fourth in the table of second-placed teams with eight points from five games, a point clear of Ireland and three other sides.

Meanwhile, Preston North End defender Seán St Ledger has expressed enthusiasm about the possibility that the club’s highly-rated goalkeeper Andy Lonergan could declare for the Republic in the wake of last week’s decision by the FIFA Congress to change the rules with regard to players switching international allegiance if they have not already earned a senior cap.

“Lonners is a great ’keeper and if he decides to come to Ireland it would be magnificent,” said St Ledger, who made an impressive competitive debut at the weekend.

Lonergan, who is 25 and was previously capped at under-21 level by England, is believed to be open to the idea of availing of the rule change and he could well be sounded out by FAI officials over the coming weeks.