Fingal's Europa tie set for "neutral" ground
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
The Madeira venue for Sporting Fingal’s away leg in the Europa League against Maritimo will not now be played in the Portuguese sides home ground but that of bitter rivals, Nacional, extratime has learned.
Ongoing redevelopment of Maritimo’s Estádio dos Barreiros has deemed the ground unfit by UEFA standards to host European ties. Since qualification for the Europa League the club were confronted with a tricky negotiation hurdle.
Not merely occupying the same city of Funchal (Madeira’s capital), both Maritimo and Nacional historically stand on opposite sides of social ideologies with Maritimo’s support coming from a traditionally working class ethos.
Stuck as they are with each other on the island, Maritimo had little option but to request permission from Nacional for the use of their Estadio da Madeira.
Weeks of disagreement on the issue finally ended when Nacional president Rui Alves acceded to Maritimo as well as media pressure because it was in “the public interest.”
The whole issue was no doubt exacerbated by the fact that Maritimo pipped Nacional for the final European spot on the last day of the Portuguese season.
The squabbling in Madeira is not something Fingal boss Liam Buckley is paying much attention to, according to club spokesman John Fallon. The planning of the trip is now very much underway at Sporting with Buckley due to fly out to Madeira within the next ten days to access the facilities available in Funchal.
The July heat in Madeira (the 1st leg is set for Thursday 15th) is something Buckley will be taking into account and early plans are for the squad to arrive in Funchal on the Monday or Tuesday ahead of the game in order to acclimatise properly.
Plans to charter a flight for both the squad and fans may have finally been ruled out after initial price estimates were raised by up to 30% and it now looks likely that the club will fly out to the island on a scheduled flight possibly via London. Up to 50 supporters of the north-side club are likely to travel, with a considerable interest being raised at a recent club night.
Fallon told extratime that after meeting at the Europa League draw last week in Nyon, the Portuguese side were very helpful in relation to acquiring training facilities and accommodation on the island for the much anticipated trip.
Ongoing redevelopment of Maritimo’s Estádio dos Barreiros has deemed the ground unfit by UEFA standards to host European ties. Since qualification for the Europa League the club were confronted with a tricky negotiation hurdle.
Not merely occupying the same city of Funchal (Madeira’s capital), both Maritimo and Nacional historically stand on opposite sides of social ideologies with Maritimo’s support coming from a traditionally working class ethos.
Stuck as they are with each other on the island, Maritimo had little option but to request permission from Nacional for the use of their Estadio da Madeira.
Weeks of disagreement on the issue finally ended when Nacional president Rui Alves acceded to Maritimo as well as media pressure because it was in “the public interest.”
The whole issue was no doubt exacerbated by the fact that Maritimo pipped Nacional for the final European spot on the last day of the Portuguese season.
The squabbling in Madeira is not something Fingal boss Liam Buckley is paying much attention to, according to club spokesman John Fallon. The planning of the trip is now very much underway at Sporting with Buckley due to fly out to Madeira within the next ten days to access the facilities available in Funchal.
The July heat in Madeira (the 1st leg is set for Thursday 15th) is something Buckley will be taking into account and early plans are for the squad to arrive in Funchal on the Monday or Tuesday ahead of the game in order to acclimatise properly.
Plans to charter a flight for both the squad and fans may have finally been ruled out after initial price estimates were raised by up to 30% and it now looks likely that the club will fly out to the island on a scheduled flight possibly via London. Up to 50 supporters of the north-side club are likely to travel, with a considerable interest being raised at a recent club night.
Fallon told extratime that after meeting at the Europa League draw last week in Nyon, the Portuguese side were very helpful in relation to acquiring training facilities and accommodation on the island for the much anticipated trip.
