NI match off as Windsor hit by snow

Published Friday, 22 March 2013

Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Russia at Windsor Park will not go ahead on Friday night, due to the weather conditions.

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PICTURE

GALLERY

Northern Ireland were due to play Russia in a World Cup qualifier at wintry Windsor Park.

Pitch inspections were carried out throughout the day, as work continued to try to clear the snow.

But the early afternoon brought the final decision and the referee declared the pitch unplayable.

Speaking to UTV earlier, the Irish FA's Geoff Wilson said that many fans were keen to see the fixture go ahead as scheduled.

"When you get fans ringing saying 'We'll help - what can we do to make the match go ahead?', that says it all. A lot of fans want the match to go ahead."

For the team, there's also the knock-on effect to their playing schedule to consider and particularly their game against Israel on Tuesday night.

The match has been rescheduled for Saturday at 3pm - but the snow is set to continue.

As a result of the change of date for the international game, Saturday's league fixtures - which were all due to kick off at 3pm - have all been postponed.

Ballinamallard were due to host Linfield, Cliftonville should have met Ballymena United, Dungannon Swifts were supposed to face Donegal Celtic, Glenavon were to play Coleraine, Glentoran should have hosted Crusaders and Lisburn Distillery should have met Portadown.

The game against Russia has been postponed by the match officials. After agreement between both FA's, the game will be played tomorrow, 3pm.
— Official Irish FA (@OfficialIrishFA) March 22, 2013

Comments

4 Comments

John in Derry wrote (57 days ago):

@s magowan in belfast, Ireland is paying back its loan with interest. England has billions invested in Ireland. Even more than what they have in the north of Ireland. Ireland exits its programme the end of this year. The Dublin underground was put on hold until a future date costing €9 billion. As was a motorway in the north costing €500 million funded by the Irish taxpayer and not the english. The North of Ireland depends on Dublin alot more than you think. Thousands of jobs in the North depend on Ireland having a strong economy.

Mark in Belfast, Ireland wrote (58 days ago):

@s magowan in belfast, The english taxpayer loaned Ireland some money to safeguard the hundreds of billions England has invested in Dublin/Ireland. Ireland had banking problems just like most of Europe and Britain. Ireland will leave the banking bailout the end of this year. The countries economy is growing again unlike Britain. All money Ireland received will be paid back in full with interest. If only we here in the North of Ireland could afford to support ourselves and not depend on the english taxpayer. The construction of the aviva stadium was started long before the country had banking problems. Britain had a bailout also from the I.M.F many years ago.

s magowan in belfast wrote (58 days ago):

Mark,which emblems would be used and what National Anthem would be played,lets face it Mark,the last time NI played in an international tournament at the Aviva the FAI hadn't the decency to fly our flag.The Avia is certainly a magnificent arena,but the money spent on it could have been used to keep your country,Ireland,from being owned by Europe and maybe paying back the millions owed to the UK exchequer.

Mark in Ireland wrote (59 days ago):

Play it at Dublin's aviva stadium.