Ian Mallon: Sky's takeover of Irish football the perfect solution for FAI

Sky has gone full takeover on Irish football for approximately €1.7m per year.

STRIKE A DEAL: Ireland’s Abbie Larkin, women’s boss Eileen Gleeson, FAI chief Jonathan Hill, Séamus Coleman and Katie McCabe, Sky Ireland CEO JD Buckley, men’s interim boss John O’Shea, and Chiedozie Ogbene at the partnership announcement yesterday. Pic: Brendan Moran, Sportsfile

MORE than 1,500 days since being put on notice by Three, and €7m in lost sponsorship revenue later, the Irish men’s football team has a new headline sponsor.

That commercial partner is not Revolut but Sky Ireland, who already pay a chunk of investment each year to the FAI for its sponsorship of the women’s national team.