The British & Irish Football Thread

[dublinbluray108]

More trouble for the FAI today. The Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Shane Ross said today that if the FAI do not answer more questions relating with their corporate governance & how they got approval for their bridging loan; they will not be eligible for any capital sports programme funding in future. This funding if not approved for the FAI for redeveloping some of their League of Ireland stadiums around the country including the building of their new excellence centre in Glanmire in Co.Cork; they will be in severe trouble.

It was also learned that the solicitor who turned up with John Delaney at the committee hearing last Wednesday was only there in a personal capacity. The solicitor in question was not representing the FAI. The FAI are aware of this matter & looking into it.

[dublinbluray108]

I heard from RTÉ today that the FAI is to go through a forensic audit of it's accounts soon according to a parliamentary committee statement by Sports Ireland which will be read at the committee hearing in Dublin tomorrow. Once the forensic audit is finished; they will probably make a decision afterwards to resume it's funding of FAI's various football programmes around the country. The committee should expect more answers of the recent €100K bridging loan which had made the FAI go over it's overdraft limit with one of it's banks. The former CEO John Delaney has voluntarily resigned his position of Executive VP of the FAI along with two other executives have also resigned from a board meeting at a Dublin hotel this evening. We should expect more details to come about this story by tomorrow.

[dublinbluray108]

The board of the FAI have all resigned today. In another development; Deloitte have made a charge against the FAI that their accounts were not filed correctly. Deloitte have mentioned that charge on the FAI via an official notice sent to the Companies Registration Office in Dublin today. The FAI have also two investigations underway as well. It is not clear who is to appoint of the new FAI board members yet. It may be FIFA that may have control of that situation because the Minister for Sport cannot get involved in the recruitment process of the new board. More info here.

Meanwhile; I'm watching the CL match with Barcelona vs Manchester United now. Messi is on a flyer with 2 goals so far at Camp Nou.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by dublinbluray108

Meanwhile; I'm watching the CL match with Barcelona vs Manchester United now. Messi is on a flyer with 2 goals so far at Camp Nou.

Messi is a class player for sure. I thoroughly enjoyed the CL match with Manchester City vs Tottenham last night - can't recall ever seeing a match where the score was 2-2 after the first 10 minutes. To be honest, even though Tottenham were a goal in front after the first leg, I really thought City would get through, but it wasn't to be. A superb entertaining match I found.

Let's see if Arsenal can succeed again in Italy against Napoli tonight.

[Martoto]

RIP Billy McNeill - "Cesar"

[tob]

R.i.p.

[dublinbluray108]

I heard some shocking news on TV today.

A young man who is currently a player on The Republic of Ireland Under 17 team is receiving treatment in hospital in Cork.

He, and two other teenagers, became victims of an acid attack in Waterford last Thursday night.

https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2019...rford-assault/

Please be advised that there is some distressing images when clicking on this article.

I hope who ever did this crime to these young men face a long prison sentence for their horrifying behaviour.

[tob]

I can't believe we are in the UEFA Cup Final we were brilliant tonight against Valencia well done lads.

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by tob

I can't believe we are in the UEFA Cup Final we were brilliant tonight against Valencia well done lads.

Congrats on getting through to the final tob. Your boys played well in both games against Valencia. I can't believe that both Euro finals (Champions and Europa league) feature all English teams this year. I wonder when was the last time (if ever) that happened. It's nice for the EPL to be validated on the grandest of stages.

Good luck against Chelsea bud. I hope you guys beat them.

[tob]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Congrats on getting through to the final tob. Your boys played well in both games against Valencia. I can't believe that both Euro finals (Champions and Europa league) feature all English teams this year. I wonder when was the last time (if ever) that happened. It's nice for the EPL to be validated on the grandest of stages.

Good luck against Chelsea bud. I hope you guys beat them.

Thanks gvortex7 i appreciate it at least it makes up for the season of being in a final.
What about Everton are you happy what Silva is doing at the club he had a good record this season in getting results against the bigger clubs like what he did against us.
Everton had played good football this season and i think they will do well again next season.

[dublinbluray108]

I would presume that a lot of my family would be very happy & celebrating with seeing Liverpool getting through to the Champions League Final on Tuesday night. I saw that match then & for a neutral like myself it was a brilliant performance to see Jurgen Klopp's men defeat the likes of Barcelona.

[dublinbluray108]

There is big news from The Times newspaper which reported today that all matches from The FA Cup are to have exclusive TV rights to all matches on ITV & the BBC in the UK for the first time since the 1980's. The matches currently shown on BT Sport will be switching over to ITV from the 2021-22 season.

The new deal is set to last for 4 years from the 2021-22 to the 2025-26 season.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f..._content=22278

That is huge news about the FA Cup going Free to Air for TV audiences in the UK & Ireland for the first time in over 30 years. I didn't expect that to happen at all probably like many others here. This news will give a huge boost to the tournaments audience figures for fans in the UK. It will give a huge boost to people who will watch all of the matches on exclusive Free to Air TV platforms like Freeview & Freesat in future. Although I assume the reasons as to why this happened was that the audience figures (or the number of subscribers paying money to watch the matches so to speak) from BT Sport had dropped like a stone in recent years. Those people affected are now probably questioning the value of having to pay for a rather expensive sports subscription in the UK & Ireland when big tournaments like this one go back to FTA television in a few years time.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by dublinbluray108

There is big news from The Times newspaper which reported today that all matches from The FA Cup are to have exclusive TV rights to all matches on ITV & the BBC in the UK for the first time since the 1980's. The matches currently shown on BT Sport will be switching over to ITV from the 2021-22 season.

That is huge news about the FA Cup going Free to Air for TV audiences in the UK & Ireland for the first time in over 30 years. I didn't expect that to happen at all probably like many others here. This news will give a huge boost to the tournaments audience figures for fans in the UK. It will give a huge boost to people who will watch all of the matches on exclusive Free to Air TV platforms like Freeview & Freesat in future. Although I assume the reasons as to why this happened was that the audience figures (or the number of subscribers paying money to watch the matches so to speak) from BT Sport had dropped like a stone in recent years. Those people affected are now probably questioning the value of having to pay for a rather expensive sports subscription in the UK & Ireland when big tournaments like this one go back to FTA television in a few years time.

At least BT Sport now won't have an excuse to increase the subscription costs, although I still wouldn't put it past them.

I've no idea if the number of subscribers to BT Sport have dwindled, but if you have Sky as well, it's a fair chunk of money going out each month. I do subscribe to both myself because I enjoy the football, but if I'm getting less and less for my money, I won't hesitate to cancel the subscriptions. La Liga has already vanished from Sky.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by tob

I can't believe we are in the UEFA Cup Final we were brilliant tonight against Valencia well done lads.

Excellent result mate, and Arsenal deserve a place in the final. I'm certain they'll go all the way and win it.

[tob]

Originally Posted by CV19

At least BT Sport now won't have an excuse to increase the subscription costs, although I still wouldn't put it past them.

I've no idea if the number of subscribers to BT Sport have dwindled, but if you have Sky as well, it's a fair chunk of money going out each month. I do subscribe to both myself because I enjoy the football, but if I'm getting less and less for my money, I won't hesitate to cancel the subscriptions. La Liga has already vanished from Sky.

I hope Sky can bring back Spanish football again they had a good show for the highlights and at the weekend a good few live games but i know its with eir sport on Sky if you have that channel CV19.

[tob]

Originally Posted by CV19

Excellent result mate, and Arsenal deserve a place in the final. I'm certain they'll go all the way and win it.

Thanks mate i appreciate it going to be hard against Chelsea.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by tob

I hope Sky can bring back Spanish football again they had a good show for the highlights and at the weekend a good few live games but i know its with eir sport on Sky if you have that channel CV19.

I don't have the 'eir' channel Tob, but ITV 4 have been showing some La Liga games lately which I gather they'll continue to do at least until the end of the season. We'll see what happens next season.

[tob]

Originally Posted by CV19

I don't have the 'eir' channel Tob, but ITV 4 have been showing some La Liga games lately which I gather they'll continue to do at least until the end of the season. We'll see what happens next season.

I didn't know ITV4 showed games, i don't know what is going on with the tv rights with Spanish Football mate.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by tob

I didn't know ITV4 showed games, i don't know what is going on with the tv rights with Spanish Football mate.

They only started in March I think, and I get the impression ITV have second pickings over what they get to show. It's great that some matches are on free-to-air TV, but this sounds like a bit of a botched deal to me. At least with Sky, you knew where you were and you'd get the top games without fail.

[tob]

Originally Posted by CV19

They only started in March I think, and I get the impression ITV have second pickings over what they get to show. It's great that some matches are on free-to-air TV, but this sounds like a bit of a botched deal to me. At least with Sky, you knew where you were and you'd get the top games without fail.

At least we have Copa America so we have some football to watch during the summer carl.