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.