SINN FÉIN’S PEARSE Doherty has hit out at the inability of people in the North to watch tonight’s World Cup play-off game against Czechia.

Ireland face Czechia in Prague this evening and should the Boys in Green win, they will face either Denmark or North Macedonia in the play-off final next Tuesday for a spot at this summer’s World Cup.

During Leaders’ Questions this afternoon, Doherty remarked that the country will “come to a standstill to cheer on the Boys in Green”.

“It is wrong that so many people in the North who share the same passion and identity may be unable to watch their national team free to air on RTÉ because it is geo-blocked,” said Doherty.

“This is something that the government must urgently address.”

Tonight’s game will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video in the North.

In a statement, Doherty added that the “blocking of content on RTÉ from viewers in the North is scandalous and it becomes even sharper during these big national moments”. 

“This is Ireland’s biggest international soccer match in years and viewers in the North are locked out from watching it on the national broadcaster,” he added.

Doherty remarked that Sinn Féin’s Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill 2025 would “ensure equal access to services across the whole island of Ireland” and require the Government and Coimisiún na Meán to “overcome licensing barriers to all-Ireland service in broadcast media”. 

Doherty posed his question in the Dáil to Tánaiste Simon Harris.

Harris described support for Ireland tonight as a “rare moment of unity in this house” but didn’t directly address Doherty’s question.

“At a time of real challenge in our country and in our world, the Irish team have really lifted our spirits,” said Harris.

“There is a real sense of belief from the youngest to the oldest person in this country that Ireland could do this.

“We are all behind our team and in the truest possible sense of the phrase, come on you boys in green.”

Elsewhere, SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said it’s “hugely disappointing that supporters in the North will be unable to follow the boys in green on the free-to-air national broadcaster”.

“It’s not acceptable that the only option for viewers here is a paid service, putting it out of reach for many at a time of real financial pressure,” added McNulty in a statement to The Journal.

He said his party has engaged with RTÉ “in good faith on these issues over many years”.

“I understand that there are challenges around broadcasting rights and technical barriers which make providing this service difficult,” said McNulty.

McNulty said he has submitted questions to the North’s Economy Minister to establish if any progress has been made on creating a “unique IP address for viewers in the North to help bypass this”.

He added that the SDLP recently met with both the UK and Irish Governments to discuss potential solutions and that it’s “important this issue is addressed so viewers in the North are not continually let down on major occasions like this”.

Elsewhere, Sinn Féin MP for South Down Chris Hazzard remarked that the “blocking of content on RTÉ from viewers in the north is scandalous and becomes even sharper during these big national moments”.

“This is Ireland’s biggest international soccer match in years and viewers in the north are locked out from watching it on the national broadcaster.

“The Irish government must act urgently to end the exclusion of citizens in the north.”

In a statement to The Journal, an RTÉ spokesperson remarked that the broadcast rights for tonight’s match “are a matter for FIFA, not RTÉ”.

“The geographical boundaries are determined by the Association or Federation selling the rights – in the case of soccer, either FIFA or UEFA.

“UEFA, FIFA and other rights holders such as the International Olympic Committee sell the rights based on the UK and Republic of Ireland, RTÉ can only acquire Republic of Ireland rights.”

The RTÉ spokesperson added that FIFA and UEFA do not sell island of Ireland rights for the entire island” and noted that RTÉ Radio 1 will provide live match coverage and commentary of tonight’s game.

Northern Ireland also face a crucial World Cup semi-final play-off against Italy this evening, with that game being shown across the BBC.

Northern Ireland will face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in a play-off final on Tuesday, 31 March should they win tonight.