TV blackout a real threat for Paris playoff

IRELAND’s crucial World Cup play-off game against France in Paris on Wednesday is still threatened with a complete television and radio blackout in this country.

Last night, some progress was being reported in talks between RTÉ, Sky and the French Football Federation’s agents, Sportfive, but, according to sources, a deal to show the game live in Ireland is still far from certain.

While most of the focus to date has been on the television rights – with Eurosport and the BBC also rumoured to be considering bidding for the game – the fact that a radio deal has not been agreed with Sportfive means a complete broadcast blackout of the match here is a real possibility.

RTÉ and Sky were reported to have opened the bidding for TV rights with a joint offer of €600,000 but the French Football Federation were said to be holding out for €1.5 million.

The dispute has been ongoing for more than a week, sparked by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) move to sell rights for Saturday night’s encounter to a station other than their French counterparts’ favoured TV partners.

It is understood that a decision on the rights for Wednesday’s tie, which Giovanni Trapatonni enters trailing to Nicolas Anelka’s away goal on Saturday night, must be made by tonight.

RTÉ Sport’s website last night stated that the planned television and online coverage, featuring presenter Bill O’Herlihy with panellists John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Graeme Souness, was “to be confirmed”.

RTÉ Radio 1 has lined up its commentary team of Gabriel Egan and Eoin Hand to broadcast live from the Stade de France for Wednesday’s kick-off, at 8pm Irish time.

The outcome of the ongoing talks over the TV rights will be of little consequence to an estimated 20,000 Irish fans expected to arrive in Paris in the coming days.

Although only 8,500 tickets have been allocated officially for Irish fans, green jerseys and flags are expected to be prevalent throughout the stadium.

Despite trailing to the French, the Irish manager was confident yesterday of leading his charges to a victory that would bring Ireland to South Africa for the country’s first World Cup appearance since 2002.