Irish fans face blackout in TV row

The Irish public look like missing out on televised pictures of their national team's attempt to make the Euro 2000 finals tonight.

The Turkish company who have the rights to the game in Bursa tonight are charging £2 million if the Irish state channel RTE wants to take coverage of the game but the price is too rich with politicians in Dublin this morning branding it as "extortion".

The row started at the weekend and last ditch talks collapsed last night with no solution. Radio 1 RTE will broadcast the game live but television pictures look doubtful as the Irish have stayed firm on their initial £100,000 to cover the match. The two sides drew 1-1 in Dublin on Saturday night with the winner of tonight's match going into the December 12th draw for the finals in Holland and Belgium next summer.