Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Friday, 18 September 2020
Special Committee on Covid-19 Response
Covid-19: Impact on Team Sport in Ireland
Mr. Gary Owens:
It is going to be difficult. The only income the League of Ireland clubs get is through fans. That would represent about 80% of the income. We are currently presenting three scenarios to all the League of Ireland clubs. The first sees fans back in the grounds, the second sees no fans at all and the third is somewhere midstream. We are trying to present the scenarios in terms of the financial support we might be able to provide. Obviously, the feedback from what we have submitted will be important in that regard. I am worried about the impact on the League of Ireland clubs. It will be significant if we cannot get fans in. We will have to have contingency plans for some of the clubs. Clubs that qualify for Europe will probably have a better opportunity. Clubs that do not will really struggle next year. We have enough visibility this year. Going into 2021, it will be very difficult without any fans on the ground and without any financial support.
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