Ireland may face Israel in Middle East as UEFA lift home ban

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND may have to travel to the Middle East for their World Cup qualifier against Israel.

UEFA yesterday announced that the ban on home matches for the country has been lifted. The UEFA Executive Committee meeting, in Limassol, Cyprus, which was attended by FAI chief executive Fran Rooney, confirmed the end of the suspension, with immediate effect.

However, UEFA have decided that matches can only be played in the city of Tel Aviv and also stated that it might re-impose a ban on any match in Israel at any given time if, in its opinion, the security situation should deteriorate.

Israel last staged a competitive match on home soil against Austria in November 2001.

Mr Rooney added that the FAI would work closely with FIFA in regard to Ireland's World Cup fixture against the Israelis in March 2005.

"I'm a man with a message, international soccer is returning home and I am ecstatic," said Israeli FA chairman Itche Menahem.

"It's a tremendous achievement and a great wrong has been righted."