UEFA, with the co-operation of the Macedonian Federation, yesterday rescued the FAI from an embarrassing situation by agreeing to a new date for FYR Macedonia's visit to Dublin next year.
The European Championship game arranged for Lansdowne Road on Sunday October 10th has been switched to Wednesday June 9th. It will be the final game in a protracted season.
The FAI sought the change after discovering that Lansdowne Road was not available to them on the original date because of a World Cup rugby game there the previous day.
Faced with the possibility of having to play an October game at either Dalymount Park or Tolka Park and a consequent drop in income, they solved the problem by persuading the Macedonians to travel in the summer.
However, the face-saving decision could come at a heavy price. With Ireland's programme completed, Croatia and Yugoslavia may know exactly what they have to do to qualify before their crucial game at Zagreb on October 10th.
It's not a scenario which invites optimism but given the situation in which the FAI found themselves, it's a risk they are prepared to take. In a significant break with tradition, it was confirmed yesterday that Ireland's European Under-21 Championship game against Yugoslavia will take place on the same day as the meeting of the senior teams in Belgrade on November 18th.
Normally under-21 games are staged on the eve of senior matches but in this instance, the Yugoslav Federation successfully lobbied to have them played on the same day. The under-21 game at Smederevo, 50 kilometres from Belgrade, kicks off at 12.30 p.m. (Irish time) with a 7.0 p.m. (Irish time) start for the senior fixture.
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