Shamrock Rovers have revealed today that they are "considering if it will facilitate any future requests from the national broadcaster RTE to show SSE Airtricity Premier Division fixtures from Tallaght Stadium in 2024," because they have once again refused to show their European games on televison.
It was recently announced that Rovers' two-legged Europa League play-off tie with PAOK on August 22 in Greece and August 29 in Tallaght will not be shown on Irish television. However, the game will be available to watch on LOITV in Ireland and the UK, with the second leg also available on the LOITV platform worldwide, excluding Greece and Cyprus.
This isn't the first time that the League of Ireland champions' European games have not been shown on the Irish broadcaster. Rovers recently beat Slovenian side Celje in Tallaght, and they also bested Icelandic side Vikingur, both of which weren't broadcast on Irish TV.
The Tallaght outfit released a statement on Monday expressing their disappointment with the national broadcaster for not showing the team's games in Europe and also the ones to come this week and next.
Shamrock Rovers said: "Shamrock Rovers F.C. confirms that both legs of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League play-off against the Champions of Greece, PAOK F.C., will be streamed live on LOITV.
"Negotiations have concluded that will allow Rovers fans in Ireland and the UK to watch a live stream of the first leg from the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki on Thursday. Kick-off is at 6:30 pm Irish time. Our usual commentary team of Con and Barry will provide match commentary on the LOITV platform.
We can confirm that both legs of our UEFA Europa League Play-Off will be streamed live on LOITV.
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.
Full statement 👇— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) August 19, 2024
"The second leg at Tallaght Stadium on August 29th will also be available on the LOITV platform and available worldwide, excluding Greece and Cyprus.
"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. Live streaming has provided fans with the option to follow the Hoops home and away in Europe in July and August."
The club also stated that it may potentially boycott RTE from showing any future games at Tallaght Stadium this season.
"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, 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," they added.
"The club is considering whether it will facilitate any future requests from the national broadcaster to show SSE Airtricity Premier Division fixtures from Tallaght Stadium in 2024."
Shamrock Rovers' game against PAOK in Greece begins at 6:30 pm on Thursday.
