THE failure of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to include northern counties in an online ticket registration for Irish fans ahead of an upcoming World Cup qualifier has been criticised.
Those seeking details on tickets for the Republic of Ireland vs Wales clash at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium next March on the FAI website are first prompted to register for the ‘Ireland Fans’ section of the site, described as the “Official Irish Football Ezene”.
Upon choosing their home country as Ireland, Irish fans must then select their county from a list, but only the 26 counties of the Republic appear.
Fans from the north can register only after inputing ‘United Kingdom’ in the list of countries, leaving some fans questioning why the FAI does not recognise them as hailing from Ireland.
This is despite the same website listing ROI supporters clubs from across Europe and North America, with the country category ‘Ireland’ for all clubs located on the island, including Belfast and Derry.
The matter is to be discussed at a summit of international fans this month, according to a spokesman for the West Belfast Ireland Supporters Club, Paul Loughran.
“I will be raising this issue at a meeting later this month of the Confederation of Supporters Clubs,” said Mr Loughran, who sits on the Confederation’s committee, which includes members from clubs as far away as Germany and Canada.
The Confederation was formed in 2013 as part of The Gathering initiative, which was aimed at engaging and uniting the Irish diaspora.
Following Sunday night’s 3-1 victory over Moldova by the Republic, fans were keen to snap up tickets to the Wales match, but one supporter who contacted the Irish News spoke of his anger at not finding his home county among those offered on the registration page of the FAI site.
“Having followed Ireland home and abroad starting with Italia 90 to the recent France experience, it is apparent the FAI don't see us as Irish fans,” said Simon Atherton.
The Irish News contacted the FAI for comment, but no-one was available.
