Opposition falls on deaf ears

UEFA officials were yesterday insisting that arrangements for the Republic of Ireland's European championship meeting with Yugoslavia at Lansdowne Road on June 5th are still in place, despite government opposition to the game going ahead on that date.

Earlier they had received a copy of a government statement, expressing "surprise and disappointment" at UEFA's decision to proceed with the vital Group Eight game.

"We have been informed by the FAI of this new development but our position is as we stated it on Monday," said a spokesman. "We have reserved the right to re-assess the problem later in the month but at this point we believe the game should take place.

"There are difficulties over almost every game in this group but it doesn't solve anything to go on postponing them. We simply don't have that kind of time if we are to finish the programme on schedule."

Additional pressure could come on UEFA from member federations in countries directly involved in the NATO action in the Balkans and it is that scenario, taken in conjunction with the government's stance, which could invest the meeting of their executive committee in Barcelona on May 26th with a new element of urgency.

EU foreign ministers, who voted last month to discourage sporting contact with Yugoslavia, are due to meet again next Monday when the likelihood is that they will reinforce their policy of exclusion for the Yugoslavs.

The government could, however, refuse to issue visas for members of the Yugoslav delegation but that is unlikely. The problem for Bertie Ahern, the first Taoiseach who has been actively seen to promote sport, is a particularly delicate one.

Unlike many of his predecessors, he is opposed to the growing practice of sport being used to make political capital but in this instance his room for manoeuvre would appear to be strictly limited.

The FAI, who have undertaken to refund all monies for pre-match bookings in the event of the game being postponed, will follow the dictates of UEFA in the matter. Failure to do so would almost certainly result in having to forfeit the points for the Dublin game and possible expulsion from the championship.

Meanwhile, they are still examining the implications of UEFA's decision to order Yugoslavia to play their home game against Malta on June 9th at a neutral venue. If this policy is extended to cover Yugoslavia's home fixtures against Croatia and Macedonia later in the year Irish officials will lodge an official appeal to have the game in Belgrade last November replayed.

The Yugoslav federation will today inform the European authorities of their choice of a neutral venue for the Malta fixture with all the indications pointing to the game going on in Greece.

Reading have released 37year-old ex-Republic of Ireland international Ray Houghton, who has come to the end of his contract after 45 league appearances.