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Lithuania Women given 3-0 defeats after refusing to play Belarus
The Irish Football Association (IFA) — the governing body of football in Northern Ireland which organises the national team — is awaiting the final decision on the Belarusian visas being granted but, as things stand, is planning for the match to be staged in Belfast as planned.
The Belarus FA has said that it is a “tricky situation” but the team “are ready to play the match regardless of the venue.”
While moving the game from Belfast to a neutral venue would theoretically hand a sporting disadvantage to Northern Ireland, Belarus insist their preference is for the game is to be played in the original venue: “Everyone says it is always better to play in a full stadium rather than behind closed doors.”
Northern Ireland are top of their Nations League group with seven points from their four matches, including a five-goal home victory over Bulgaria last week. Belarus are second in the group with six points, ahead of Bulgaria (five) and Luxembourg (two).
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(Top photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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Publish date : 2024-10-21 23:46:00
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