Inter to visit Ireland as FAI agree money-spinning deal

EUROPEAN champions Inter Milan will provide the headline act for the inauguration of a new four-team tournament at the Aviva Stadium next July, following the announcement yesterday of a joint venture between the FAI and Endemol Sport, the international multi-media programming agency.

The tournament will also feature an as-yet-unnamed top Premier League club and another European side along with an Airtricity League selection. The FAI will receive at least €1m per year during the 10-year agreement which promises to bring many of Europe’s top clubs to Dublin over the next decade.

Inter, managed by former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, will also play a second game in Ireland next summer, probably in Cork or Limerick.

Under the agreement, Endemol Sport will manage, produce and commercialise major sporting events for the FA, working with Iconic, the sports agency behind television series “Football’s next Star”. Endemol Sport Iconic will also sponsor and promote the FAI emerging talent programme, which operates from 12 centres around the country.

“It’s a sponsorship for the association,” said FAI chief John Delaney. “We’re guaranteed a minimum of seven figures every year, but we are not involved in the running or the arrangement of the tournament. That is up to our two partners (Endemol Sport and Iconic).”

Delaney confirmed that Endemol were the “third party” of a third party agreement that saw the FAI veto Airtricity League First Division club Limerick’s hopes of bringing Barcelona to Thomond Park last summer. But he insisted that the agreement was in fact already in place at that stage and that’s why Limerick weren’t allow to host the Barca game.

“I suppose you can play the semantics,” said Delaney. “What we had in place was an agreement that we could not grant games in stadiums in excess of 15,000 people. I think to be fair to the guys they wanted to see how strong we would be on that agreement to see it through over a 10-year period. And we were.

“I know one or two of you (in the media) took a different line on it at the time. But our responsibility is to running the game. By delivering a deal of this stature, of seven figures a year... to get €1 million at least in cash a year, certainly in this economy, is not something happening very often for many sporting organisations or companies.’’

Meanwhile, Delaney said he’s confident there will be a large attendance at tomorrow night’s friendly with Norway.

“(Sunday) was the fifth biggest cup final attendance,” said Delaney. “The biggest since 1968, a great showcase. In terms of the game on Wednesday, expect somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 people.”

Delaney dismissed claims many tickets were given away free to schoolboy clubs. “That’s not true,” insisted Delaney. “The people who attend the game have become an issue for some of you, not for us.

“Close to quarter of a million people will have come into Aviva Stadium since the Argentina game by time we close on Wednesday. That is a very strong level of people. That is a great result for our organisation and for Irish soccer.”