RTE cannot be absolved of blame. At the forum Cathal Goan said disingenuously that the sale of broadcasting rights for Ireland's home international matches was a retrograde step. Until 1996 RTE had paid no paid rights fees to the FAI. It had paid the FAI around €635 per annum since 1998. In September 2001 when renegotiation began, it offered €508,000 for the rights. This was €127,000 less than what was offered more than three years earlier. It is, therefore, a bit rich of RTE to be overly critical of the FAI for going to Sky Sports, given the doubts cast over the seriousness of RTE's intent by its offer.