RTÉ has delivered a letter of protest to the FAI, complaining about the manner in which their negotiations on TV coverage of Republic of Ireland soccer games were broken off midstream. The move follows the FAI's decision sell the rights for the team's home internationals over the next four years to Sky Sports.
Irish soccer fans will now see the home games live only on a subscription basis.
This afternoon, the FAI's honorary treasurer, John Delany, defended the decision to sell the rights to screen live Ireland's home international matches for the next four years, and claimed the FAI's agent in the negotiations, Laurence St John had told RTÉ about the plan.
A spokeswoman for the national broadcaster said this afternoon, that RTE contacted the FAI on Friday after hearing rumours about the sale. An FAI official told RTE that no comment would be made and that a statement would be made "shortly".
So far RTE has not been told officially by the FAI about the decision.
The spokeswoman again expressed RTE's puzzlement and disappointment at the FAI's handling of the situation.
