Ireland away games can be protected from Sky bid, says EC

IRELAND'S international away games could also be protected from being bought up by Sky, the European Commission said yesterday.

The satellite broadcaster is reported to have placed a 17m euro bid to screen away games involving the Irish, English and Scottish soccer teams.

This bid is certain to eclipse any rival offer, but a spokesperson for the European Commission said there was nothing to stop the Government including these fixtures in its list of protected events to be kept on free TV.