Setanta accused of holding terrestrial TV to ransom over England games

The company, only available to subscribers, bought up the rights to all England's World Cup qualifying away games.

Held to ransom: Setanta has bought the rights to all England's World Cup qualifying away games

But it has sparked fury after refusing to do a deal for a highlights package on free-to-air channel, like the BBC, unless it gets a bumper pay deal.

England's game against Andorra at the weekend did not get a terrestrial window after no deal was done.

Now tomorrow's crunch game in Croatia is almost certain to go the same way with Setanta said to have slapped a £1million price tag on the game.

It is understood the BBC has offered £200,000 for the highlights and ITV slightly more than that, but the Irish broadcaster is refusing to budge.

Channel 4 and Channel Five are believed to have offered about £100,000 for the rights.

About one million TV viewers watched Saturday's 2-0 win over Andorra in Barcelona on Setanta.

But during the game travelling fans were heard chanting 'We hate Setanta', even singing in support of the BBC.

People who do not have a subscription package including Setanta will see none of the action.

Rival broadcasters are furious at their hardball tactics, fearing it will further damage the following of the national team after a disastrous couple of years.

An MP has now called on the government to intervene in the row.

Labour MP John Grogan said culture secretary Andy Burnham should fast track a planned review of the list of protected sports events on TV.

He said as an interim measure England's qualifying World Cup games  involving home nations should be made free to air.

At the moment top events like Wimbledon, Olympics, the World Cup and FA Cup must be shown on free to air TV.

Other events like The Ryder Cup and Test matches must at least have highlights made available.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has said there is no chance its review of listed events will be brought forward.

Grogan claimed Setanta was 'hoarding' the rights to the highlights.

Setanta has paid in the region of £5million to secure the rights to the game in Zagreb.

The broadcaster's chiefs have insisted they simply want the market rate for the highlights package.

Director of Sport Trevor East has claimed the BBC should be bidding for England matches, instead of doing a massive deal to sign the rights to Formula One.

An insider at ITV said it looked certain that no deal would be done for tonight's game.

He pointed out the issue will not go away as the same situation is set to be repeated for other England away games such as the tie in Ukraine.

The source added: 'No deal will be done. This is likely to happen all over again. But it is a lot of money to pay, especially if England end up losing.'