RTE have confirmed that they will broadcast Ireland’s crucial Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia live.
The ability of thousands of Irish people to watch the match live remained in doubt until this morning, when RTE confirmed that they had earned the right to broadcast the match, as well as the play-off final if the Republic of Ireland beat Slovakia.
Up to now, television coverage of the match was scheduled to be behind the Sky Sports paywall but negotiations had been underway for months between RTE and Uefa officials, who reached an agreement this week.
Delighted to confirm (subject to the games going ahead) that @RTEsport will broadcast
ROI v Greece Mar 05th
ROI v Montenegro Mar 11th
ROI Euro qualifiers playoff v Slovakia Mar 26th & playoff final if ROI win semi final. pic.twitter.com/0jD2psdt8S— Declan McBennettRTE (@RTEmcbennettd) March 3, 2020
It means that Slovakia vs. Republic of Ireland will be broadcast on RTE on Thursday, March 26.
The game is currently scheduled to take place in Bratislava, with the teams battling it out to earn a place in the final away to the winner of Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Northern Ireland on Tuesday, 31 March.
There have been some concerns regarding the ongoing coronavirus crisis, sparking suggestions that Ireland vs. Slovakia be played behind closed doors although a decision on that has yet to be made.
Presenter Darragh Maloney will be joined by Liam Brady and Didi Hamann on RTE2 and RTE Player for live coverage of the game, with George Hamilton and Ronnie Whelan on commentary and Tony O’Donoghue reporting.
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