The Football Association of Ireland could demand significant Government compensation following an EU committee's decision to back its wish to keep some sporting events on free-to-air television.
Following a meeting in Brussels, experts reporting to European Education and Culture Commissioner, Mr Viviane Redding, said they found a list put forward by the Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, to be "unobjectionable".
The events protected include the Republic's home and away soccer European Championships and World Cup qualifying matches, the All-Ireland hurling and football finals, the Irish Derby and the Irish Grand National. In addition, Ireland's Six Nations rugby matches have been placed on a deferred broadcast list - but that is currently of little significance since RTÉ already holds the rights to broadcast them live.
The decision of the Education and Culture Contact Committee to "adopt" the Irish list effectively guarantees that the Commissioner will accept it, though a formal decision is weeks away. Forwarded last November, it was "consistent with the aims and the provisions" of EU rules to keep the broadcasting of key cultural and sporting events on free-to-air television, the committee said. Mr Ahern must now ask the Oireachtas to approve the list. Once that happens, the Commission will publish it in the EU's official journal.
The FAI provoked public outrage last summer when it emerged that it had signed an exclusive €7.5 million deal with Sky television to broadcast Ireland's home European Championship matches live to audiences in the Republic.
In a parallel deal, TV3 won rights to broadcast the matches "as live" one hour after the final whistle, though opponents of the deal have argued that this did little to soothe fans' grievances.
Last night, the FAI said it would "carefully study" any EU decision, though sources strongly hinted that the Government would have to make up the €7.5 million if the Sky deal is to fall.
"The continuing development of football in Ireland means there is a clear need to secure the maximum possible revenues from all income streams, including TV rights, government support and match revenues," the association said.
The FAI's financial situation has been complicated by the Genesis report, which demanded significant management changes and more professional organisation behind the national team.
"All of this costs money. It can only be funded in three ways and we don't have the option of increasing match ticket prices, particularly if the next few results are not great," one source told The Irish Times. In addition, the FAI now believes it has little if any chance of getting the €20 million worth of capital grants from the Government which had promised as part of the Abbotstown deal.
Meanwhile, both Sky and the FAI have been told by the chairman of the Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Noel O'Flynn, that they will have to appear before his committee to "explain their reasons" if they insist on trying to go ahead with the deal.
The head of Sky's Irish operations, Mr Mark Deering, would not comment last night.
Mr Ahern said: "Throughout this process I had endeavoured, in talks with Sky Sports and the FAI, to ensure that major sports events would remain free- to-air. These talks were not successful to date, but I intend to ensure that sports fans, particularly the young and the elderly, can still see major sports events on free-to-air television."
