FIFA insists it still foresees a two-leg play-off

FIFA has informed the FAI that it expects the forthcoming World Cup play-off between the Republic of Ireland and an as yet unknown Asian side to go ahead over two legs as scheduled with the first game taking place in Dublin on November 10th and the return match being played five days later.

All of the indications from the world body yesterday were that the second match will take place in whatever country Ireland is up against for a place at next summer's finals.

Senior officials from the organisations made it clear, however, that they will continue to monitor the situation and fully assess it after the Asian sides involved in the two-legged play-off intended to decide Ireland's opponents have been established at the end of next week.

The FIFA line was conveyed to the FAI by Michel Zen-Ruffinen, the general secretary of the organisation, in Prague yesterday when he met with Irish officials, Brendan Menton, Milo Corcoran and Des Casey.

The fact that FIFA has expressed a strong preference for the play-off being played over two legs was warmly welcomed by Menton.

"Obviously we're delighted," he said. "We wanted the play-off to be held over two legs and FIFA have assured us that that will be the case. It is good, too, that an element of certainty has been introduced while, from a financial point of view, we are glad to know that we will have the revenue from the home leg."

Indeed, in the circumstances, Menton could not realistically have hoped for more from the meeting as he himself has repeatedly conceded that the identity of the country which Mick McCarthy's side will have to visit would have a major bearing on the safety issue.

He had added, however, that waiting until that issue was resolved would make it extremely difficult for alternative arrangements to be made while keeping to the proposed play-off timetable, and yesterday he welcomed the fact that FIFA's next assessment of the situation will take place before rather than after the Asian play-off.

Mick McCarthy said he was pleased with the outcome, though. "I'm delighted with the news," he said. Glad to be playing at home, of course, after which we'll go to their ground which is the way it should be in the spirit of football."

Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Qatar are all still potential opponents for the Irish.

UEFA have insisted that no decision on the seedings for the next European Championships qualifying campaign will be taken until all of the World Cup play-off games have been concluded.

That means that the earliest any announcement will be made is mid to late November although it may well be mid December. The draw for the competition is due to take place in Porto in January.

Brian Kerr has been in Cork over the past couple of days continuing his preparations for the forthcoming European Youth Championships qualifying mini-tournament which is to be played there during the first week of next month.

Ireland are up against Austria, Croatia and Latvia in the five day long round-robin tournament and the hosts will be playing their games, which take place on November 5th, 7th and 9th at Turner's Cross and St Colman's Park.

The winners of the group will go through to take on the winners of a group that includes both France and the Netherlands with the winners of that two-legged play-off progressing, in turn, to next summer's finals in Norway.

Special tickets allowing access to four of the week's six games are on sale during the build up to the tournament with a family ticket costing £10 and those admitting under-16 year-olds £3.

Bohemians, meanwhile, have been hit with the news that Stephen Caffrey will miss two games as a result of his recent sending off against Longford Town. Alan Murphy, who was also involved in the incident that led to Caffrey's dismissal, received a one-match ban.