SOFIA SWITCH?

Bulgaria game in doubt over Covid-19 fears

THE Republic of Ireland’s opening Nations League game in Bulgaria on September 3 may be postponed or switched to a neutral venue.

FAI chiefs are waiting for directions from UEFA, as well as guidance from the Irish government, regarding the Sofia fixture – confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria have doubled from 6,000 to 12,000 since July 4.

Niall Quinn, the outgoing FAI deputy CEO, believes a switch to a neutral venue by UEFA is a possibility for Stephen Kenny’s first game as Irish manager.

‘I think there is stuff being discussed, or certainly being planned. But that will start to manifest itself more clearly when we get official positioning on it from UEFA,’ he said.

If UEFA fudge, Quinn didn’t rule out the FAI taking matters into their own hands should they be told by the government that Sofia is unsafe to travel to.

‘‘If the government is overriding that (UEFA) with advice that prevents us from doing what we

as an association would like to do, then we have to listen to that. We have no choice. ‘Of course UEFA will be the key in saying whether this game has to happen or not. ‘But if they are not listening to governments, then we may have a decision to make. ‘Much as we want all of Stephen’s plans to come to fruition and to see all the games taking place the way they are scheduled right now, we just have to be vigilant and ready to alter, when or if needed. ‘I’d love to be more confident, but we are just in this bind at the moment. ‘Nobody wants to see Stephen and his team playing more than the association, but this isn’t just an FAI problem, it’s wider than that.’ With English-based players required in Dublin for duty on Sunday, August 30, for the games away to Bulgaria and home to Finland (September 6), the FAI needs medical clarity on such issues as quarantine and other medical protocols. Quinn acknowledged that news of a Waterford player’s suspected Covid-19 symptoms was unwelcome and ‘knocks us back a step. It’s a blow to hear it, but it’s not something that wasn’t going to be new to us, or a total shock to us. We had to be ready for stuff like that,’ said Quinn. The player, who travelled but did not figure against Shelbourne on Saturday, reported unwell for training yesterday morning. Pending the outcome of the player’s test, the Blues’ game at Sligo Rovers tonight was postponed. If the positive test is confirmed, there could be implications for Waterford’s fixtures and the League, which returned on an upbeat note over the weekend.