Thu 05 May 2007FAI out to win hearts, minds and walletsInternational Tour:While the promoters of last
night's game between Ireland and Ecuador continued to hope that the
big "walk up" crowd they were predicting would actually materialise
at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, the large contingent of travelling
FAI officials on this week's trip were viewing the match as the
half-time interval in the first phase of what they view as a play
for far larger financial stakes.Spokesmen for the company behind staging Ireland's two games,
Centaro, as well as Major League's Soccer's commercial arm, Soccer
United Marketing, who have had a significant role in the two-stop
tour, and the FAI themselves declined to reveal the scale of the
financial commitments, or potential losses, involved.