NI FANS FACE LOCKOUT FROM EURO PLAY-OFF IN BOSNIA
THE Irish FA are now sweating on Northern Ireland fans being locked out of the massive Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica on October 8 after Uefa’s decision to ban supporters from attending Nations League matches in September.
Despite some member countries being “comfortable” about welcoming crowds back and having government support, Uefa say it is “too soon” to allow supporters back into stadiums.
Ian Baraclough’s first match in charge of Northern Ireland is the Nations League clash in Romania on September 4 followed by a home showdown with Norway on September 7.
A Windsor Park international without supporters would be a £500,000 blow to the Irish FA but this news won’t be a big surprise to them, and the Association have received financial support from Uefa and Fifa to minimise the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The development is worrying news for supporters, many of whom have already made travel plans for the away fixtures in the autumn.
A meeting of all 55 Uefa member associations yesterday decided the two rounds of the Nations League next month would be held behind closed doors.
The Uefa Super Cup in Budapest, Hungary on September 24 between the Champions League and Europa League winners could be a pilot match, with a reduced number of fans allowed in.
But now the Irish FA are monitoring developments closely to see whether the Bosnia Euro 2020 play-off semi-final in October will proceed without fans. An Irish FA source said: “We will follow Uefa’s protocols and guidance.
“The Association will be liaising with Uefa and the nations we are facing.
“The key fixture is the Bosnia one in October and communication with all the relevant bodies will continue.”
Irish FA president David Martin (left) was delighted that 500 fans could be accommodated at Windsor Park for the Irish Cup final between Ballymena United and Glentoran on July 31 but the Association organised the tournament and they must now respect Uefa instructions for the international games.
Gary Mcallister, chairman of the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs, tweeted: “Pretty much as expected, Uefa are saying that the September internationals are too soon to allow fans into matches.
“We’ll be meeting with the IFA for an update on this and other issues next week and we’ll also receive information from Football Supporters Europe.”
Uefa felt there should be a “consistent approach” for the first international window since lockdown but the news comes as a blow to the Irish FA who, just last month, were reportedly hopeful of welcoming 6,000 fans into Windsor for the Norway game.
That 6,000 figure would only be around half the number of block bookers in a stadium that can hold more than 18,000.
Uefa said in a statement: “Uefa mentioned that it would be too early to already allow fans into the upcoming Uefa national team competition matches to be played at the beginning of September and that test match(es) should take place to study precisely the impact of spectators on current medical protocols.
“Uefa suggested to use the Uefa Super Cup, which will be played on September 24 in Budapest, as a pilot match for which a reduced number of spectators could be allowed in.”
Member associations have also been encouraged to speak to their respective governments to seek quarantine exemptions if they are travelling to a highrisk country, while members can also ask to play games at neutral venues if local conditions risk a postponement.
At the moment, Northern Ireland’s Nations League clash in Romania on September 4 is set to go ahead but the Covid-19 crisis in that country is deepening, with the number of infections rising at an alarming rate.
Three days after the Bosnia game, Northern Ireland are at home to Austria in the Nations League before a clash in Norway on October 14.
A trip to Austria awaits on November 15 before the Romanians visit Windsor Park three days later.
The outcome of yesterday’s talks will be presented to the Uefa Executive Committee in the coming days.
On the domestic front, the lack of fans in stadiums will also concern Irish League clubs with the season scheduled to commence on October 17.