By Business & Finance 
Three has renewed its partnership with the Republic of Ireland football team and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) until 2020 in a deal worth €8.9m.
Three will continue to have exclusive branding rights to include training and playing gear and kit, ticket branding and high visibility pitch-side branding.
Robert Finnegan, CEO, Three, said: “Since 2010 we have built a very positive and beneficial partnership with the FAI and we are delighted to be continuing this for the next four years. We already have a range of exciting initiatives in place for football supporters with lots more planned for the coming years as we all continue to get behind our national team. An incredible 1.1 million people tuned in to watch Ireland’s historic win over Germany in October. Football is not only drawing huge numbers of viewers and spectators with sell out matches in the Aviva Stadium, but also continues to be the most popular sport in the country for people to participate in.”
Three has sponsored the national side since 2010, with the previous four-year deal worth €7.5m. The announcement coincides with Ireland’s crucial Euro 2016 play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
