Uefa deal a huge boost for Ireland

Soccer:With all 53 member associations now signed up to Uefa's plan to sell broadcasting rights for the Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018 qualifiers collectively, the Football Association of Ireland could see its share of television revenue increase to €10 million per year.

Uefa president Michel Platini, who was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term today, confirmed this morning that all the European members had come on board in a deal that will represent a major financial boost for the region's smaller federations over an agreed four-year period.

Under the existing system, to be replaced in 2014, individual federations negotiate separate television rights for their home games. In many ways, this left countries such as Ireland hoping to draw a crowd-pulling team which could adversely affect their chances of qualifying.

Although Ireland’s pool for next year’s Euro 2012 finals might justifiably be considered relatively benign, the lack of a ‘glamour’ team saw the FAI lose out when it came to negotiating rights with broadcasters. Last October’s home tie with Russia, the top ranked side in Pool Two, is only believed to have netted the association some €250,000 in television rights.

FAI chief executive John Delaney said the new deal would be worth “in the order of €40 million” to the association over the four years and will provide a “huge financial benefit” to the cash-strapped organisation.

Speaking on RTE Radio this morning, Delaney said: ““This deal is worth in the order of €40 million to us in terms of minimum commitments we would get from Uefa. Also, we keep our own friendly rights and there’s a marketing pool to be distributed as well.

“The deal that we signed up to and was approved today will give us guaranteed revenues in the order of €40 million. It’s great. We said that by 2020 we would have no debt on the Aviva Stadium and a deal like today rubber-stamps the commitment we gave to Irish football.”

“It’s a good day for us, no doubt about it.”

Delaney also confirmed that both the Euro and World Cup qualifiers would remain free-to-air.

“It's as you are," he added. "The Irish audience will be watching our games, our competitive games, on free-to-air. That's the established principle now and it’s one that’s important to us, it’s important that the Irish public gets to see our team playing our competitive matches. There’s no change of any kind there.”

England agreed to sign up to the deal over the weekend, becoming the last federation to do so, with reports suggesting they will be guaranteed revenues well in excess of €100 million over the four-year period.

Platini said centralising the match rights was “essential” for the growth of football in Europe.

“It is a project aimed, above all, at protecting and developing national team football,” he said this morning. “And, what is more, the knock-on effect will be guaranteed revenue for each association.

“You will therefore all be able to concentrate on the football, without having to worry what the draws might throw up and whether their outcome will be favourable — or not — in terms of TV rights.”