The Irish FA are exploring options in continental Europe should Northern Ireland be forced to play November’s home Nations League match versus Belarus away from Windsor Park.
The Belfast Telegraph revealed in September that the British Government was against Northern Ireland playing Belarus in Belfast and now more doubts surround the fixture scheduled for November 15 due to uncertainty over whether Belarusian players and staff will be granted entry visas to play here.
It is understood high-ranking Irish FA officials have discussed the issue with manager Michael O’Neill and all are determined that the game will go ahead even if Windsor is ruled out.
If Northern Ireland were to pull out of the game because it could not be played in Belfast it is likely the points would be awarded to Belarus.
The IFA are intent that will not happen believing that, come what may, it is right that they fulfil the fixture and therefore they are drawing up contingency plans.
They want this issue sorted out as soon as possible.
Should the Belarus team not be granted the necessary documentation to travel to Northern Ireland’s capital it will be the same scenario for the rest of the UK, meaning the IFA, with Uefa’s approval, would have to find a location in continental Europe to play the game.
The IFA remain hopeful that the match will take place at Windsor Park not least because they have already sold thousands of tickets for the Belarus match.
In his press conference on the eve of Tuesday’s Nations League home match against Bulgaria, O’Neill said: “We’re not in control of the situation in November, we’ll just address that when it comes.”
Admitting he did not know at this stage if Northern Ireland had one or two games left at Windsor in 2025, he added: “We’re waiting for a decision so this could be our last home game before March.”
The Belfast Telegraph reported in September how the UK Government had made contact with the IFA and the NI Executive about their upcoming Nations League fixtures against Belarus, outlining that the football authorities were planning to push on and fulfil both games.
They started on Saturday playing Belarus in Hungary – a neutral venue as decreed by Uefa. The game in Belfast may present a bigger obstacle.
Northern Ireland, who beat Luxembourg 2-0 at Windsor in September, are the first country from the UK to play Belarus since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The stance from the UK Government relates to Belarusian involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine with Downing Street’s position clear that there should be no Russian or Belarusian state representation in international sport.
The British Government has issued informal neutrality guidance for UK sport’s national governing bodies that states only neutral individual Russian and Belarusian sportspersons should be able to compete in international sport.
The UK Government, however, recognise the independence and autonomy of sports bodies and feel decisions on participation in international sports events are a matter for the relevant international sport federations and the national representatives to those federations.
In this case that is Uefa and the IFA.
An IFA spokesperson said: “The Irish Football Association is in contact with appropriate Uefa and Government officials on this matter.”
At the weekend, Northern Ireland’s 0-0 draw against Belarus took place in Zalaegerszeg in Hungary with no fans inside the ZTE Arena stadium.
In 2022, Uefa declared that teams from Belarus would have to play their home games at neutral venues with no supporters in attendance.
The ruling was seen as a sanction for Belarus being involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Northern Ireland fans were disappointed not to be able to travel to the game but it is believed if the ‘home’ match against Belarus takes place elsewhere, they will be allowed to go and support the team.
On the matter, the Home Office said: “It is long-standing Government policy that we do not routinely comment on individual cases.
“We are unable to confirm if all members of the Belarus national football team will be denied entry to the UK without details on each individual.”