Windsor still ready to join virus fight, insist the Irish FA
THE Irish FA say the National Football Stadium remains open for business should the NI Executive need to use it as a vaccination base.
Sports stadiums across the world are being used to help roll out the vaccine in a race to protect the most at-risk people from Covid-19.
Windsor Park was previously made available as a testing centre last March and while the offer wasn’t taken up by the health authorities, the Irish FA remain willing to assist the fight against the virus.
In the south, there have been negotiations for existing testing centres, such as Croke Park, Punchestown racecourse and the Aviva Stadium to become mass vaccination centres.
And it emerged this week that Rangers had offered Ibrox as a vaccination centre during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Light Blues managing director Stewart Robertson wrote to the UK and Scottish Government to assist in the national effort to roll out the vaccine in the coming months.
Clubs and sporting organisations ready to play their part in tackling the virus have been widely praised by fans and politicians and the Irish FA has worked closely with the NI Executive to ensure its stadiums are safe. Windsor Park was put on lockdown and underwent a deep clean when the pandemic arrived last March and Northern Ireland games have been badly affected with only 1,060 supporters allowed to attend the Euro 2020 play-off final against Slovakia, despite the venue boasting a 18,500 capacity.
An Irish FA spokesperson said: “We note that stadiums have offered their help and the Irish FA have been consistent in saying we are prepared to offer our support to anyone who needs it during this pandemic.
“Our position hasn’t change since when we offered help with testing, which wasn’t taken up at that time. Our offer to help the NI Executive and health authorities will continue to remain open.”
The international venue can be used for Linfield matches as elite sport can be played behind closed doors but the Danske Bank Premiership is suspended until January 23.
The top brass from all the major sports in Northern Ireland — football, rugby and GAA — are united in their desire to combat this deadly virus but they have some distance to travel to match the efforts of Welsh rugby.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium was last year transformed into the Dragon’s Heart Hospital.
The 2,000-bed field hospital was the second largest in the UK when it opened in April to treat coronavirus patients.
The venue will resume its role as a national stadium for rugby’s Six Nations, with Ireland scheduled to visit on February 7.
Welsh Rugby Union chairman Steve Phillips said the field hospital had been an example of “what can be achieved when people in Wales come together”.
Most stadiums are currently lying empty and it could be some time before large crowds are allowed to return.
There are even on pitch concerns. In the Premier League, referees will speak to captains and managers before matches to remind them to observe social distancing guidelines, including around situations like goal celebrations and handshakes.