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IFA rocked by double blow
Friday, 13 November 2009
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The Irish Football Association has been left reeling from a one-two that could cost the local game millions of pounds.
The double whammy started when a Government review into the list of sporting events which are protected for free-to-air television effectively banned the IFA - as well as their counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales - from negotiating television deals with subscription channels.
And the second blow was struck when the association’s former chief executive Howard Wells - who was sacked in October 2008 - walked off with a six-figure sum in an out-of-court settlement of his unfair dismissal case.
The double blow means that football in Northern Ireland is now facing financial uncertainty. Added to that they are trying to seal a lucrative deal with boss Nigel Worthington
The IFA secured a £10 million deal with Sky Sports last year, to take in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign as well as the 2012 European Championship qualifiers.
Under new rules competitive international fixtures will only be allowed to be broadcast on terrestrial channels, meaning the deal cannot be renewed past 2012.
The domestic game has also benefited from Sky coverage, with five fixtures being screened live in each of the last three seasons. Where the Government reccomendations leave that agreement isn’t certain.
Wells’ case against the IFA was due to begin on Monday morning before the pay-off was agreed between legal representatives. Not only do the IFA have to pay out a sum to Wells, but legal costs will also have to be met, leaving the association with a bill that could run into £500,000.
IFA President Raymond Kennedy said under the conditions of the settlement he could not comment.
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Ryan, Ryan - why so bitter? Can't you grasp reality?
Linfield, a private company, struck a deal with the IFA, another private company, to allow it (the IFA) to use Linfield's facilities for home matches. If any other ground had been suitable, the IFA wouldn't have signed the contract. No other ground was or is available, which is not Linfield's fault. (or should NI play at the Hoval? or Seaview?).
Once we accept that no other ground was available, didn't Linfield do well to negotiate such a good deal for its shareholders?
In answer to your question, however, since the service fee was negotiated, not in cash terms, but in percentage of income, any drop in income from NI home matches will impact on our 15%
It won't stop us being the biggest and best club in Ireland though!
Always in our shadow.
Posted by Blue Hammer | 13.11.09, 13:20 GMT
ryan - we have an asset in windosr park which we rent out to the ifa.. the ifa were the ones that came to us.. it is not linfields fault that the ifa have no stadium of their own. two other irish league clubs have considerably bigger wage bills than linfield do and they dont get ifa money so exaplin that! they play their players bigger wages yet linfield are the most successful side since the contract began and the 98 years beofre the contract! we are linfield we will always be the biggest and the best.
forever in our shadow!
Posted by davy | 13.11.09, 12:37 GMT
Will either of these blows effect the amount of money Linfield FC receive? If they are going to I'd hazzard a guess that we'll see the stadium saga move forward in the near future just to make sure they don't suffer.
Posted by Ryan | 13.11.09, 09:12 GMT
IFA/Linfield losing this money won't matter to the other 11 Irish Premier League clubs as they didn't any of it.
With the shambolic way the IFA operates including their 100yr contract they deserve everything they get.
Posted by markgfc | 13.11.09, 08:58 GMT