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SHAMROCK ROVERS HAVE threatened to ban RTÉ from broadcasting televised coverage of League of Ireland games at Tallaght Stadium for the rest of the 2024 season after the club’s Europa League play-off games against Paok were not picked up by any national broadcaster.
Both legs of Rovers’ tie with the Greek champions will instead be shown live on the LOITV streaming service.
A statement on Monday afternoon said that the club “is considering if it will facilitate any future requests” from RTÉ to show League of Ireland Premier Division fixtures from Tallaght Stadium for the remainder of the domestic campaign.
Rovers fans in Ireland and the UK will be able to stream Thursday’s Europa League play-off first leg against Paok from the Toumba Stadium, Thessaloniki, where kick-off will be at 6:30pm Irish time.
The return leg in Dublin on 29 August will also be available to stream on LOITV, except in Greece and Cyprus.
In a statement on Monday, Rovers lamented the fact that none of the club’s four European ties to date this season have been picked up by terrestrial TV channels in their home country.
Rovers have instead organised for their continental qualifiers to be streamed on LOITV at their own expense.
Stephen Bradley’s men are already guaranteed group-stage European football for just the third time in their history after sealing a 3-2 aggregate victory over Celje at Tallaght Stadium last Thursday. That victory means that, even if Rovers suffer defeat to PAOK over two legs, the League of Ireland champions will compete in the Conference League proper this season.
The Hoops’ group-stage fixtures in either the Europa League or Conference League will be shown live on Premier Sports, who are the exclusive rightsholders for both competitions in Ireland.
But having again failed to secure a television home for their Europa League play-off tie with Paok, Rovers are considering action which would prevent RTÉ — the League of Ireland’s longest-term rightsholders — from broadcasting league games from Tallaght for the remainder of the 2024 campaign.
“The club exhausted every avenue across the four rounds of European matches to deliver matches on a free-to-air national broadcaster, but to no avail,” Rovers’ statement said. “Live streaming has provided fans with the option to follow the Hoops home and away in Europe in July and August.
“It has been a disappointment that these thrilling games have not been showcased to a wider Irish audience; the drama of a last minute penalty miss in our first home tie advancing the team to UCL QR2, 9,500 fans packed into Tallaght Stadium for a great match against Sparta Prague game and, finally, the turnaround from an away first leg loss to beat Celje in extra time to make the UECL League phase (at a minimum).
“And now, the visit of PAOK will not be broadcast on terrestrial Irish TV.
“The club is considering if it will facilitate any future requests from the national broadcaster to show SSE Airtricity Premier Division fixtures from Tallaght Stadium in 2024.”
Written by Gavan Casey and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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It’s a absolute disgrace that neither Rovers playoff or St. Pats playoff are being shown on national television. I may not agree with the approach taken by Rovers, I can certainly understand their anger. The attitude from our national broadcaster towards our clubs and our league is nothing short of a pathetic.
@Super Saint: they’ve no problem showing under 20s rugby though.
@Super Saint: I’m sure the nation holds its breath!
@Dermot Blaine: And there’s only about 8 countries which are good at rugby.
@Ciaran O Donoghue: 8?
@Super Saint: RTE hasn’t any money because it has to spend the bailout on keeping the D4 brigade in the lap of luxury. Their priorities are polo, cricket and the horses.
@Shaun Gallagher: OK maybe 6 then.
I am no lover of Rovers but they are correct in this case.For to long Irish football has been treated like dirt by our so called national broadcaster. Surely RTE could do one night without showing repeats
PAOK will paste them, not worth watching
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: Same was said about Celge, one of the best matches in ages. May as well tell sky to stop showing Man United matches too.
I THINK IT IS A DISGRACE THAT ROVERS WILL NOT BE SHOWN ON TV.
TAKE THE CASE OF THE GAA FOR FIVE WEEKENDS RE3CENTLY ON RADIO NO OTHER SPORT WAS BROADCAST ONLY GAA FOR SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS .
RTE ARE VERY KEEN ON BROADCASTING THE GAA GAMES (ONLY SPORT WHICH IS SECTARIAN) ALONG WITH EXPATS WHO CANNNOT RECEIVE TV PROGRAMMES ABROAD.AS THERE ARE NO VOTES .TO BE GAINED BY BROADCASTING TO THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE NAMELY THE EXPATS SHAME ON RTE FOR LEAVING OUT EXPATS FROM BROADCASTS.
@Brian Smith: womens cup final was on live, pity the ground was empty
@Brian Smith: Switch your CapLk key off, otherwise you are SHOUTING at us.
@Brian Smith: what is rte?
Just everybody pay your tv license and all is well
@Glen Kelly: nada, they know rte are coming into 750m in funding and want a piece …
This is grass roots football, a breeding ground for future Irish players they say, the LOI should have the same exposure as all other sports in Ireland.
RTE are quick to show the ladies playing pointless matches, rugby at all levels, horse racing, golf… A country full of wanna be snobs.
Ridiculous decision by RTE
Football in Ireland needs all the help it can get
Sure no one watches RTE anyway.
have your say