FAI hope for 6,500 Irish fans in Mainz

THE FAI have asked their counterparts in Georgia for 6,500 tickets for the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying game in Mainz this day week.

Under FIFA regulations, the Georgian Football Federation are obliged only to provide 10% of capacity — which, at the Bruchwegstadion for this game, is 1,000 seats — for visiting supporters but, because of the unusual circumstances of the fixture, and the belief that not many Georgian fans are expected to attend, the FAI are keen to maximise the Irish attendance.

Said FAI chief executive John Delaney: “I always felt the game would not be played in Georgia and we worked hard in the background with UEFA, FIFA and the GFF to get the game moved. Thankfully it’s sorted now, although not as quick as it should have been from the fans’ point of view.