Derry City fans say they'll pay per view as clubs consider behind closed doors matches

The FAI this week issued clubs with a working document entitled, ‘Return to Football - Behind Closed Doors’, which explores the possibilities for resuming the 2020 Airtricity League campaign when it gets the green light from the Health Service Executive.

A maximum of 214 people, including players, coaching staff and media, would be permitted into the ground on match nights while other regulations to ensure the health and safety of all involved would also be in place.

The FAI are currently discussing the financial impact of playing without fans with the clubs and are examining potential revenue streams from live streaming and other sources.

When contacted by the ‘Journal’ last night, the association were unable to provide a breakdown of how the income generated from streaming games online would be divided amongst clubs.

A spokesperson said the FAI isn’t in a position to say how much of the streaming revenue would go directly to clubs or how much it would potentially cost fans as plans are ‘at the very early stages at the moment’.

However, the ‘Journal’ surveyed Derry City supporters this week and the findings of a snap poll showed a sizable percentage of the fans who took part were in favour of paying a one-off fee or willing to purchase a bundle of fixtures if they weren’t able to go to matches for the foreseeable future.

We put several options to our online readers across our various social media platforms and with over 400 people registering their vote, 31% indicated they would subscribe to a bundle of games for a fee while 31% said they would be prepared to pay up to £5 for a one-off match.

Twenty five per cent of those surveyed said they would be prepared to pay up to £10 or more for a one-off streaming of a fixture while 13% claimed they wouldn’t be prepared to pay anything to watch a behind closed doors match.

While some League of Ireland clubs have aired reservations about playing behind closed doors due to the financial costs and health and safety fears, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers are understood to be in favour of the proposal.

Results of the ‘Journal’ poll suggests there is an appetite for the live streaming of games and Derry City director, Sean Barrett insists the Brandywell club is fully behind the FAI’s proposals:

“Yes, 100 per cent we are for trying to get back playing football, not just for the club, but for the whole city, as we try to get some sort of normality back,” he said.

“Everybody is keen to try to get back playing football but only if it is safe for the players to do so and safe for all the management and backroom staff, which we feel can be achievable based on what the FAI’s recommendations are.”