Ireland could face Andorra in Barcelona
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The Republic of Ireland’s penultimate fixture in the Euro 2012 Group B qualifiers is likely to be played in Barcelona after the Football Association of Ireland today confirmed the Andorran Football Association has written to UEFA to move the fixture.
The Estadi Comunal in Andorra la Vella has a capacity of just 1,100, from which the hosting federation are instructed to give visiting fans a minimum of 10 per cent.
Although Andorra have already welcomed Russia, Macedonia and Slovakia to their national stadium, after consultations with the FAI they have agreed to apply for the change of venue for the Irish fixture in expectation of a larger number of supporters travelling.
With Slovakia, Russia and Ireland currently deadlocked on 13 points at the top of Group B, interest in the fixture is expected to be high, especially so as the other destinations in the group have proved awkward for Irish supporters. Ireland opened their campaign in Yerevan against Armenia before taking on the Slovakians in Zilina. Last month Giovanni Trapattoni’s side travelled to the Macedonian capital of Skopje and still face the journey to Moscow in September.
With a home fixture against Slovakia on Friday, September 2, and the daunting trip to play Russia in Moscow four days later, Ireland will round off their campaign when Armenia visit Aviva Stadium on October 11, four days after the possible game against Andorra in Barcelona.
Mick McCarthy’s Ireland won 3-0 against Andorra in March 2001 in a World Cup qualifier in front of 5,000 fans at the Mini Estadi, where FC Barcelona’s reserve and junior teams currently play at the 15,276 seater stadium.
Some 40,012 attended England’s 3-0 win over Andorra at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in 2007, which was the main stadium for the 1992 Olympics and can accommodate 55,926. The English returned to the same venue a year later and secured a 2-0 victory in front of 17,500.
RCD Espanyol used the stadium from 1997 until the summer of 2009, but FC Barcelona’s city rivals moved to the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat, which is also a muted venue for the Ireland match. The Andorran federation, though, has yet to avail of the new 40,500 capacity stadium.
“The Andorran Football Association has written to UEFA to request that the Euro 2012 qualification match be played in Barcelona,” said the FAI statement. "The FAI will notify fans when UEFA make a decision.”
In accordance with UEFA guidelines, the perspective venue for the fixture must be confirmed by Sunday, August 8, which is 60 days before the game.
The Estadi Comunal in Andorra la Vella has a capacity of just 1,100, from which the hosting federation are instructed to give visiting fans a minimum of 10 per cent.
Although Andorra have already welcomed Russia, Macedonia and Slovakia to their national stadium, after consultations with the FAI they have agreed to apply for the change of venue for the Irish fixture in expectation of a larger number of supporters travelling.
With Slovakia, Russia and Ireland currently deadlocked on 13 points at the top of Group B, interest in the fixture is expected to be high, especially so as the other destinations in the group have proved awkward for Irish supporters. Ireland opened their campaign in Yerevan against Armenia before taking on the Slovakians in Zilina. Last month Giovanni Trapattoni’s side travelled to the Macedonian capital of Skopje and still face the journey to Moscow in September.
With a home fixture against Slovakia on Friday, September 2, and the daunting trip to play Russia in Moscow four days later, Ireland will round off their campaign when Armenia visit Aviva Stadium on October 11, four days after the possible game against Andorra in Barcelona.
Mick McCarthy’s Ireland won 3-0 against Andorra in March 2001 in a World Cup qualifier in front of 5,000 fans at the Mini Estadi, where FC Barcelona’s reserve and junior teams currently play at the 15,276 seater stadium.
Some 40,012 attended England’s 3-0 win over Andorra at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in 2007, which was the main stadium for the 1992 Olympics and can accommodate 55,926. The English returned to the same venue a year later and secured a 2-0 victory in front of 17,500.
RCD Espanyol used the stadium from 1997 until the summer of 2009, but FC Barcelona’s city rivals moved to the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat, which is also a muted venue for the Ireland match. The Andorran federation, though, has yet to avail of the new 40,500 capacity stadium.
“The Andorran Football Association has written to UEFA to request that the Euro 2012 qualification match be played in Barcelona,” said the FAI statement. "The FAI will notify fans when UEFA make a decision.”
In accordance with UEFA guidelines, the perspective venue for the fixture must be confirmed by Sunday, August 8, which is 60 days before the game.
