The SSE Airtricity Premier Division fixtures for the 2021 season have been confirmed, with Shamrock Rovers opening the defence of their title with a home game against St Patrick’s Athletic on the opening Friday night of March 19th.
Elsewhere, FAI Cup holders Dundalk will travel to Sligo Rovers, Finn Harps will host Bohemians and newly-promoted sides Drogheda United and Longford Town host Waterford and Derry City respectively.
The FAI has also confirmed the outline of financial supports that they will underwrite for clubs this year, though the numbers and the distribution have yet to be confirmed.
Total prize money across the Leagues is to rise from €338,0000 to €600,000 with an additional €500,000 of value going back to clubs through the waiving of affiliation and referee fees that would otherwise have been paid by the clubs.
In total, the package is understood to be worth around €6 million with the FAI guaranteeing to underwrite €3.6 million of that and the balance coming directly from Government by way of Covid mitigation funds or through Sport Ireland.
The figures are based on a very gradual if any return of fans to grounds, the principal revenues stream for clubs.
There is also the potential of the WatchLOI project being revived from a good baseline start in 2020 and bringing in media revenue that has otherwise been missing from the jigsaw of funding.
The FAI will be discussing the potential revenue streams with clubs on an individual basis over the coming weeks.
The fixtures for the SSE Airtricity League First Division and the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League will be released on Monday, February 8.
Sport for Business Partners
