Irish games may be in Britain

TODAY’S budget is unlikely to include provision for financing a new national stadium — leaving the FAI and the IRFU in a pickle.

The issue is especially acute for the FAI, with the draw for the qualifying tournament of World Cup 2006 to be made in Frankfurt on Friday. Within a few weeks of the draw, the football associations will meet to firm up dates and venues.

However, as things stand, the FAI are not in a position to say where Ireland will play their matches. While nobody will concede the point, it is possible Ireland may have to play some matches over the coming two years in England or Scotland at Old Trafford, Anfield or Parkhead.

Such an unwanted development may be forced on the FAI because of the restricted capacity of Lansdowne Road. The installation of temporary seating has enabled the FAI to extend the capacity to 36,000 but if FIFA impose their ban on temporary seating then only 23,000 will be available.

FAI chief executive, Fran Rooney, admitted: "That would mean our matches would not be viable. We depend on matches for much of our funding. If we were obliged to work off that sort of base it would create enormous difficulties."

The FAI were allowed an extension when FIFA and UEFA brought in the 'seats only' policy some years back after a temporary stand collapsed and several lost their lives at a match in Bastia, France. The authorities are unlikely to allow any further leeway.

Yet there are those who believe a new concession can be negotiated. They base their argument on the good behaviour of Irish fans and the fact the temporary seats at Lansdowne are erected on a concrete base rather than on scaffolding.

The FAI chief argues it is high time the issue of a National Stadium was addressed in a conclusive way. It is expected there will be a €1.2m provision in the budget to cover on-going expenses at Campus Ireland headquarters, Abbotstown, but no reference to a new stadium or to Lansdowne Road.

Said Mr Rooney: "We want to be in a strong position when we sit down with the other associations to decide on dates for the qualifying matches. We will not be able to do that if the Government does not make a decision about the National Stadium."

He also wants a decision for other reasons: "Ideally we would want our headquarters next to the National Stadium.

"We would want to use it as our base for the implementation of the National Development Plan, witha centre of excellence, coachingfacilities, training facilities for ourinternational teams and administrative headquarters."

For this to happen it seems Abbotstown would be the preferred option. But Mr Rooney said he had an open mind on where a new stadium should be built - it was more urgent for the Government to decide to proceed with a new stadium or to support the re-development of Lansdowne.

He said: "I am anxious to implement the Technical Development Plan as quickly as possible. If the Government intend to build at Abbotstown, that is one thing. If not, then we will have to make some decisions of our own as to where we will develop our headquarters.

"We have some alternatives; the AUL complex at Clonshaugh is capable of further development and we have land there. The only drawback is that it is on the flight-path for Dublin Airport so there would be restrictions on the height of building development.

"Another possibility is the Amateur League headquarters at Oscar Traynor Road in Coolock. That site is not as big as the AUL but there is land about it that we might be able to get access to."

The impending World Cup draw brings the stadium issue into focus. In this context the recent debate within the GAA on the future of Croke Park and the possibility of Ireland playing in England are relevant.

Said Mr Rooney: "We have not had any discussions relating to playing outside of Ireland, but we may have to consider all options. And as regards Croke Park, then that is a matter for the GAA."

What may be considered important is the excellent relations that Mr Rooney enjoys with the GAA executive. This Summer the officers of the three organisations the GAA, IRFU and the FAI shared a social day out when they played golf together and sat down to dinner afterwards.

GAA officials have been guests of the FAI at recent matches at Lansdowne Road "The GAA were guests at our European Championship matches against Albania and Georgia" he said, "and I was a guest of the GAA in the Ard Comhairle for Dublin matches it is just a pity there were not more of them this season!"

Meanwhile, the 2006 All-Ireland football final will be deferred for a week to avoid a clash with the last day of the Ryder Cup at the K Club.

GAA chief, Liam Mulvihill said at yesterday's announcement that because of all the extra matches in the championship they might well remain with the first week in October should it prove a success in 2006.

George O'Grady expected to succeed Ken Schofield as Chief Executive of the PGA European Tour next week, and Ryder Cup director Richard Hills also expressed their gratitude to Croke Park for the gesture. "The GAA have been most helpful," said Mr Hills. "They have acted in the national interest and must be admired."

The football final will take place on October 1 in 2006 while the Ryder Cup dates are September 22-24. Playing the matches over four days doesn't appear to be a runner and the holders will again retain the trophy in the event of a tie. This is in contrast to the recent President's Cup, played from Thursday to Sunday and which featured a play-off between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els not completed because of fading light.

It is still planned to stage the Ryder Cup over the well established North Course even though the recently opened South Course has been mooted as an alternative.

Ryder Cup Ltd estimates that 40,000 people will attend on each of the three days at The K-Club in 2006 and tickets will go on sale in twelve months time. Along with Fáilte Ireland, the main sponsors of the matches are AIB, Waterford Crystal and An Bord Bia.