The Commentary Box: Dundalk travel to Drogheda on Friday

League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon, this week, gave some interesting information to a side of League of Ireland football, from how much money is being lost on dodgy boxes to the amount being gambled worldwide on League of Ireland games.

While clubs compete for modest amounts of money on the pitch, betting worldwide on the League of Ireland shows huge amounts of money is being gambled on each game worldwide.

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Mark Scanlon revealed that six million euro can be gambled on a single match. It means that almost 30 million euro is being gambled on Premier Division games.

The figures derive from information from Sportradar. This is the company that provides analysis to  UEFA from 174 bookmakers around the world.

It has also been revealed that around 1,830,000 euro is placed on each match in the First Division during the season. This is placed with 155 bookmakers worldwide.

The figure for the men's FAI Cup is 1,390,000 per match across 125 bookmakers, and 550,000 euro per game across 71 bookmakers in the Women's Premier Division.

With so much money being gambled, the League of Ireland launched a gambling awareness programme to educate players, coaches, match officials, and FAI officials about the dangers of gambling.

Former Liverpool defender Dominic Matteo, who ran up debts of more than one million euro, will join other former professional players to speak to current League of Ireland players about the gambling crisis.

The scheme has been endorsed by the FAI, the National League Committee and PFA Ireland. It is being funded by Flutter. They are the world's largest betting business.

They operate Paddy Power, Betfair, Gaming, PokerStars, Sky Betting, and Tombola brands in Ireland. The sessions are due to begin later this month. They will be led by Epic Global Solutions.

They are due to deliver UEFA-standard betting integrity training in accordance with FAI rules. It's incredible that 1,830,000 bet on each Premier League game in the League of Ireland last season.

1,330.000 was gambled on each First Division game. 1,390,000 was gambled on each FAI cup game. 550,000 was gambled on each Women's Premier League game among just 71 bookmakers.

In total, 70 individual workshops among 32 senior teams are being used in the gambling awareness scheme. This includes 30 men's and 12 women's teams.

26 academies are also included as area 10 Women's Development League teams at training facilities across the country. Two additional workshops will be held for FAI staff.

On Friday, Dundalk hosted a gambling awareness programme session at Oriel Park. It was delivered in partnership with EPIC Global Solutions and the League of Ireland.

It was attended by all players and staff. It was delivered in conjunction with Dominic Matteo and Jess Matteo. The training is supporting players and staff and improving awareness of gambling harm.

It is encouraging informed decision-making and reinforcing the importance of integrity within the game.

In a statement, Dundalk FC say they welcome this important programme. They thanked Dominic and Jess for their time and contribution in helping to deliver a valuable session for players and staff.

Meanwhile, it's emerged the League of Ireland clubs will take in 3.2 million euro in FAI grants and TV money. This season, a total prize fund of 780,000 euro is being given to clubs across the game.

Premier Division winners got 125,000 euro while First Division winners got a paltry 38,000 euro. But this does not tell the real story.3.1 million euro is being distributed from LOITV money and the UEFA solidarity money.

This is due to go to the Premier Division clubs before the beginning of March. It excludes Shamrock  Rovers and Shelbourne.

As far as I know, relegated Cork City will benefit from the 325,000 euro to be given to Premier Division clubs. First Division clubs are to get a mere 45,000 euro. Dundalk will collect that amount.

The split between First and Premier Division clubs is a UEFA rule. The League of Ireland is ranked 31st in the UEFA top 30. If it can get inside that top  30, then the clubs could distribute the money as they saw fit.

LOITV now generates over one million euro in revenue. The FAI takes no money from it. 13,000 euro is given to each of the Premier Division clubs.

7,000 euro is given to the First Division clubs. 5,000 euro is given to each of the Women's Premier teams from LOITV funding raised.

But it's been estimated that piracy is costing the clubs around one million euro. It's been claimed that half the viewers are using fire sticks and dodgy boxes and paying no money towards the league.

The FAI need to turn their attention to Sky as to why the ordinary viewers have been forced to turn to the Pirates. First, let me say that the people that provide the piracy service are gangsters.

The money they receive from the ordinary person is being used in the proceeds of crime. However, the cost that people must pay Sky for the benefit of viewing their services is very expensive.

I get the full sky package. This allows me to see the basic channels, plus Sky Movies and Sky Sports. The Sky Sports package allows me to see all the English and Scottish Games.

I can watch Sky Sports Racing and the two Premier Sports channels. These show soccer and rugby games.

The soccer from Premier Sports allows me to watch Spanish football and club rugby. There is a Sky Tennis channel and a Formula One channel. I can also see darts and snooker.

In the UK, customers can choose which Sky Sports channel they wish to see. In Ireland, we must watch all Sky Sports channels or none.

If you wish to drop Sky Movies, you really do not save much. All new Sky subscribers are given a very generous package for 12 months. After that, they must pay the higher fee as other viewers.

I have been a full subscriber to Sky since 1994. In the 32 years since it has become so expensive. The 135 euro does not include the LOITV either.

For a fee of around 90 euro I could use the pirate service. This would give me everything, including LOITV.

I could purchase the LOITV app for 99 euro and see all League of Ireland games legally throughout the season, and remain if I want a Sky subscriber as well. I could also still get my LOITV app and get rid of Sky.

I am seriously tempted to dump the Sky Sports and movies element of what I pay. This would reduce my costs considerably. You may ask would I turn to the pirates. The answer is no.

However, I can fully understand why anybody will use the firestick or the dodgy box. Sky are squeezing people to the brim of their collar. They must make their service much more affordable.

Otherwise, the consumer will turn to the pirates in an ever-increasing manner. They will get the LOI TV on the pirate service along with a full pirated Sky TV service. The LOITV app, on its own legally, is a bargain.

It is 99 euro for the entire season. But the pirates are responsible for the League losing money, as many people  opt for the free, very cheap pirate service and watch Sky Sports and other channels.

Dundalk had an emphatic 5-0 win over Athlone Town in their final group game of the Leinster Senior Cup at Lissywollen on Saturday. Conor Kearns made his debut in goals for Dundalk.

Gbemi Arubi continued his good start to the season when he scored from the penalty spot. Harry Groome got Dundalk's second goal. Dundalk led 2-0 at the break.

Declan McDaid bagged two goals for Ciaran Kilduff's side. Daryl Horgan also got on the score sheet in the second half. It was great to see Dundalk do so well.

They have been banging in the goals recently. Declan McDaid and Daryl Horgan came off the bench to get Dundalk's second-half goals. Enda Minogue was the sub keeper. Vinnie Leonard did not play.

It's great to see pitch works are all but complete at Oriel and nearing certification. Work is continuing on the installation of the new floodlights. They remain on schedule.

The club are also looking for full planning permission to install new permanent module toilet facilities for both home and away fans.

It's emerged that Vinnie Leonard has yet to put pen to paper for any UK or European club. The national media were reporting last week that Vinnie had signed for Brighton for a fee of 350,000 euro, plus add-ons.

But these reports have proved very premature. At the time of writing, Vinny has not signed for any foreign club. But negotiations continued over the weekend.

At the time of writing, there have been no new developments. Brighton are very keen to sign Vinnie. But so are a number of other clubs. I hope for Vinnie's sake that the transfer fee is more than 350,000 euro.

This is because he will get a greater percentage of the transfer fee. It will also mean Dundalk will get a higher fee as well. It's expected a deal will go through with the successful bidding club this week. Yet again, maybe not.

Dundalk travel to Drogheda next Friday night to take on local rivals Drogheda United in the annual Jim Malone Cup. This fixture has taken on a life of its own. Dundalk won it last year at Oriel.

Drogheda have won it much more often than Dundalk. They will be favourites to win it on Friday night. It's always a good game. It is a pre-season game. But neither manager will be looking at it that way.

It's a derby game. Dundalk will play their first league game on the new pitch at Oriel in three weeks. There will be a big crowd at that, as there will be in Drogheda next Friday night.

I remember speaking to a Dundalk fan after last season's Malone Cup game at Oriel. They said Dundalk would be promoted. They were correct about that. They said that Drogheda would be relegated.

They were very much wrong about that. Kevin Doherty is a top-class manager. Drogheda will not be struggling against relegation next season either.

There was a great show by Dundalk supporters for the Community Clean Up day at Oriel on Saturday. Members of the Dundalk FC Supporters Trust, Shedside Army and the 1903 Supporters Club took part.

The Trust will hold its AGM on Tuesday week in the Lisdoo Arms. This will be a highly important meeting. It was the funding from the Trust that allowed Dundalk draw down their grant for the new pitch and floodlights.

The Trust intends to continue to improve the Oriel Park infrastructure. They can only do this with the funding they get from existing and new members.

Dundalk are holding a season launch night at Oriel Park in the Lillywhite Lounge this coming Thursday. It should be a very successful night. It starts at seven pm. Ciaran Kilduff, players and club officials will be in attendance.

It's really great to see the club continuing to connect up with supporters. It really is a must-do event for as many supporters as possible to attend. Have a great week. Please, everybody, look after each other.