EU approves State plans for free-to-air sports events

THE Government was yesterday given EU approval to designate a range of major sports events as free-to-air on television.

However, the Football Association of Ireland and Sky are believed to be studying the implications of the ruling and may yet try to block the move in the High Court.

The FAI signed a 7.5m deal with Sky under which the satellite broadcaster was given exclusive rights to broadcast Ireland’s away games in the European Football Championships.