THE BIGGEST deal negotiated by RTE Sport entitles them to cover all home games played by the Republic of Ireland, competitive or otherwise, over the next six years.

Neither the FAI nor RTE would specify the amount involved but both agreed that the figure was substantial. The package provides for extended coverage of domestic football and will include a fortnightly magazine programme to take account of all elements of the game in Ireland, from schoolboy to international level.

For RTE, it is a significant improvement on the old contract "which was due to run until 1998. Under the terms of the existing arrangement they were guaranteed coverage of only one competitive game in either the World Cup or European Championship qualifying series.

The reality, of course, was that they covered almost every game, but with the element of uncertainty removed they will be in a position to structure their programming on a long term basis.

The new deal was coloured by persistent speculation that Sky 5 contemplating moves to secure exclusive broadcasting rights to all Ireland's home games. FAI officials deny they entered into negotiations with Sky but clearly it was a useful bargaining chip in what has, traditionally, been a difficult negotiating area.

The prospect of losing out to a rival broadcaster, based outside the country, was one which worried RTE and the point appeared to be conceded by Tim O'Connor, the Head of TV Sport at Montrose. "This is a most significant development for RTE in particular and for public service broadcasting," he said.

Pat Quigley, the FAI president, described it as an excellent package. "The benefits of the agreement reached today will stretch to every level of the game here," he said. "We were at all times anxious to have the national broadcasting service on board and it ensures that every person wishing to do so will have the opportunity of watching the national team play."

It is the first of what the FAI hope will be two lucrative television contracts to be concluded within the next month. In common with the four home associations, they meet UEFA officials in London next Monday to discuss Article 14 of UEFA's statutes governing the transmission of television signals to different jurisdictions.

The FAI believe that £1.5 million, spread over five years, is insufficient compensation for the detrimental effect televised English football is having on attendances at domestic games, and they are looking for a substantial increase.