Soccer

Local sport expected to be further hit by coronavirus - but Euro play-offs still on

Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 semi-final play-off with Slovakia in Bratislava is likely to be played behind closed doors on March 26
Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 semi-final play-off with Slovakia in Bratislava is likely to be played behind closed doors on March 26 Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 semi-final play-off with Slovakia in Bratislava is likely to be played behind closed doors on March 26

AMID the ongoing spread of Coronavirus, the Euro 2020 play-off games featuring Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland scheduled for the end of this month are still going ahead, while local sport is likely to be further affected by the deadly outbreak.

The Republic’s eagerly awaited Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Slovakia in Bratislava on March 26 is likely to be played behind closed doors, it emerged yesterday.

Over 2,000 Irish fans have bought tickets for the game and there is an estimated 4,000 descending on the Slovak capital ahead of the tie.

If the game is played behind closed doors, ticket-holders will be refunded.

In a statement released yesterday, the Football Association of Ireland said: “As of today, Monday, the game is scheduled to go ahead as planned but talks will continue involving all parties.

“The Slovakian FA are in constant communication with their Government and health officials and will inform us immediately of any update.

“The FAI will continue to heed the advice of the Irish Government and Uefa in relation to this game and will relay any news around the fixtures to supporters and staff as soon as it becomes available.”

Northern Ireland are scheduled to play Bosnia-Herzegovina in their semi-final play-off match in Sarajevo, also on March 26, with the the Irish FA saying it would “continue to take advice from Uefa and the relevant international health authorities”.

Slovakia has 11 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and Bosnia-Herzegovina five.

The Slovak government has ordered a 14-day ban on all cultural, sporting and other activities organised by public authorities.

In a statement posted on the Slovakia FA website, it “recommends to all its subordinate units under its management that the players of football matches do not shake hands, restrict interaction during the celebration or manifestations of joy, including contact with spectators and fans…”

In local football, Mid-Ulster club Hanover FC confirmed on Saturday night one of their players had tested positive for the virus and played in the club’s reserve team game against Coagh United Reserves earlier that day.

Hanover’s senior team played Crewe United at the weekend and as a precautionary measure the latter club has been “stood down” for two weeks.

One Crewe United player phoned the Public Health Authority’s helpline for advice even though the infected Hanover player did not feature in their game.

“We’ve just been told we’ll have no matches for two weeks and training will be cancelled as well,” said the Crewe player.

“I phoned the Public Health helpline and they told me as long as I didn’t have any direct contact with the person go ahead with my normal day-to-day activities.

“He didn’t play against us but he’s obviously trained with the Hanover club.”

In a dramatic twist, the match official of the Hanover Reserves versus Coagh United Reserves, featuring the player who tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, has been deemed “high risk” by the Public Health Authority.

Speaking to The Irish News today (Page Two), Mid-Ulster referee Martin Conlon (57) pro-actively sought advice from health authorities after he was informed by the league secretary of the positive test case in the game that he officiated.

Conlon is now self-isolating.

“I wasn't even aware of the player's name until Sunday night and then I realised I had a face-to-face conversation with him and an accidental collision,” revealed Conlon.

With the Irish government pulling the pin on their St Patrick’s Day parades in Dublin yesterday there could be a domino-effect of cancellations in Irish sport.

St Gall's GAC has also shut its doors following one of their members tested positive for the virus.

France and Germany have taken the decision to ban gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

The Cheltenham festival, which starts today and attracts over 60,000 horse-racing fans on each of the four days has been given the green light.