Soccer: A 10-year multi-million euro deal announced by the FAI on Monday will see reigning European champions Inter Milan contest a four-team tournament in Dublin next year.
The association’s deal with Endemol Sport and sports agency Iconic will result in an annual seven-figure pay-out to the FAI, according to chief executive John Delaney.
Rafael Benitez’s side, who were managed to treble glory by Jose Mourinho last season, will contest the tournament with an Airtricity League XI, while a Premier League club and another European team are to be announced.
Endemol has a working relationship with both Manchester City and Ajax Amsterdam, but there was no suggestion either club was necessarily going to make up the numbers.
The games will take place at the Aviva Stadium on July 30th and 31st, 2011.
In addition to the tournament, Inter will do some pre-season training in Ireland and will play another game at either Turner’s Cross or Thomond Park.
The association has already ensured the latter venue is free on the date concerned.
Endemol Sport, whose parent company brought the world the television show Big Brother, were the reason Limerick City were prevented from hosting Barcelona in the summer.
The League of Ireland club’s plans to bring the European champions to Thomond Park were scuppered by a contract with a “third party” at the time, which prevented the FAI from sanctioning games in venues that held 15,000 fans or more.