Ireland to play at Parkhead?

**lopez** · 10/09/2003, 10:52 AM

Got an email about an an article in yesterday's Glasgow Evening Times claiming that Ireland may well play their World Cup games at Celtic Park due to FIFA's reluctance over temporary seats.

Speculation no doubt, but what's the general feeling on this?

**gspain** · 10/09/2003, 11:15 AM

I'll ignore the windup on a specific unpopular British venue.

Speculation also in Saturday's paper althoguh maybe Rooney putting pressure on a government that failed to deliver on promises and that after scuppering our own stadium first.

I would think it's a disaster if it comes about. We should play at home even in a 22,000 seater Lansdowne. A move to the UK would be a terrible blow even temporarily. It would of course come down to money - 67,000 at Old Trafford or 22,000 at Lansdowne.

I imagine we'd move around if it came off - London, Liverpool & Manchester being the obvious choices.

It may also be a ploy to get the government to put pressur eon the "forces of darkness" to give somethign back for their �140 million and open up Croke Park but their hatred of the crown always outweighs their love of the half crown.

**Peadar** · 10/09/2003, 11:20 AM

Originally posted by lopez
Speculation no doubt, but what's the general feeling on this?

It would be a total disaster and would make the FAI the ultimate hypocrites as it would essentially reward to biggots in Ireland who promote sectarianism through their Glasgow Celtic supporter disguise.
I also don't think the transport infrastructure in Glasgow could handle the influx of supporters from Ireland. The airport certainly couldn't handle it anyway.

**Macy** · 10/09/2003, 11:26 AM

Hopefully it is just spin to put pressure on the Government to make a decision on the redevelopment of Lansdowne and make the bogballers open up Croke Park in the meantime (although I'd nearly rather go abroad than go cap in hand to those bigots)...

If it were to come to that I'm not sure I can see anywhere else than Old Trafford - given that it's the biggest capacity in England at the moment and bar Liverpool the easiest to get too.....

**James** · 10/09/2003, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by Macy
If it were to come to that I'm not sure I can see anywhere else than Old Trafford - given that it's the biggest capacity in England at the moment ...

and we could all go round to macy's gaff for tea and sandwiches before the game

what a stupid rumour, it aint never never ever gona happen kids

**Junior** · 10/09/2003, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by Peadar

I also don't think the transport infrastructure in Glasgow could handle the influx of supporters from Ireland. The airport certainly couldn't handle it anyway.

Though you'd have us all believe 'its a barstool brigade' that very route takes thousands of Celtic supporters every fortnight.

2 airports in Glasgow, one in Edinburgh.
Ferry at Stranraer.

Travel Infrastructure could easily cope.

Also Think about how many supporters already travel from the UK to Dublin.

By the way I hope it never comes to it....

**gspain** · 10/09/2003, 12:13 PM

I think it would be a bit much for anyone living in Dublin to criticse the infraastructure of any other European city. Took me anhour last night to get from the east Wall to Lansdowne thanks to a drop of rain, a Stones concert in the Point and the football.

CIE, Dublin Bus .......

Still it would be a disaster to play our home games in the UK.

**ger121** · 10/09/2003, 12:14 PM

I'd say it's just the FAI or in particular Fran Rooney putting a bit of pressure on the Government to get the GAA to maybe open up Croke Park to Football.

It would be a major embarrassment to the Government if Ireland was forced to play its Internationals abroad. Especially when it's their failure to provide a national stadium, that has resulted in this problem arising.

**Peadar** · 10/09/2003, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by Junior
Though you'd have us all believe 'its a barstool brigade' that very route takes thousands of Celtic supporters every fortnight.

Can't ever remember telling you that.

Anyway we're talking about the bones of 50,000 people converging on the city from outside. There is no point pretending that this happens every other week when it doesn't. Plus the fact that so many people would need to pass through Cork, Dublin and Belfast airports etc. in addition to the normal traffic. It doesn't bare thinking about.

Originally posted by Macy
If it were to come to that I'm not sure I can see anywhere else than Old Trafford

But the City of Manchester Stadium is much nicer and we don't need any more than it's 40 odd thousand capacity.

**max power** · 10/09/2003, 12:31 PM

i don't think we should even bother talking about this. Irish team = home games in Ireland, but if we were to travel anywhere, i'd rather play the home games in australia then give the loud mouth celtic fools more fuel to flame there fire of c**p !!!

**pete** · 10/09/2003, 12:41 PM

Playing Parkhead would be a complete disaster.

Millenium Stadium in Cardiff would be good option if required - they used to tens of thousands of people visiting for games in the city.

From what i;ve heard the FAI may yet get a dispensation for the temp seats (would take a hurricane to unearth them) if they can show they have a solution for a seated stadium in place or something...

**liamon** · 10/09/2003, 12:41 PM

What's the capacity at the Nou camp?
Or Ibrox?
Or Giants Stadium?

Who cares. Ireland won't be playing home games on foreign soil.
Not going to happen.

**NigeSausagepump** · 10/09/2003, 12:48 PM

I expect some kind of fudge whereby the FAI are given an extra 3/4 years to sort out the stadium issue so we'll continue to play our home games at Landsdowne. During those 3/4 years the GAA will come under almighty pressure from Bertie et al to cede ground and to be fair to them they would have done at that famous vote if Bertie hadn't pressured them to uphold the ban so his famous stadium would have a raison d'etre.

The thought of taking games to Scotland/England/Wales is both pathetic and embarrasing. Imagine we got drawn against England in the WC qualifiers. We'd end up playing our away game in Old Trafford and our "home" game at Anfield. So much for home advantage.

**MikeW** · 10/09/2003, 12:54 PM

I'd prefer if we played our home games in poxy Inchicore in front of 200 people rather than play on foreign soil, no matter how much money the FAI lose. This just can't be allowed to happen, it'd be the ultimate humiliation for Ireland as a footballing nation, worse than any 10-0 defeat. Personally I doubt if I'd ever go to another Ireland game again if they chose to play home games abroad.

I hope the politicians finally get their act together and get a plan for a new stadium going so we can beg FIFA for more time at Lansdowne (some chance I'd say). Maybe they can bargain with Mary Harney on this one - no fat tax if she allows a stadium be built.

**Dodge** · 10/09/2003, 1:06 PM

Ireland are allowed use the buckets seats on special dispensation from UEFA on the basis that a national stadium is about to be built (eircom Park)

for the next WC qualifiers they have to get that dispensation again. Can't see us getting it so these rumours might not be so far fetched. I'd back Liverpool to get it (bound to be cheaper option for FAi then Man U or Celtic)

**Peadar** · 10/09/2003, 1:15 PM

Originally posted by pete
Millenium Stadium in Cardiff would be good option if required

And Wales could play in Tolka instead

Can't see that happening some how.
The only way to keep Lansdowne Rd as the venue would be to have planning approved for a new venue in Ireland.

**opplock** · 10/09/2003, 1:17 PM

I'm sorry but its just not true that the FAI have a dispensation for the next WC qualifying campaign. They were told in no uncertain terms in July that they cannot use temporary seating.

IMO the issue of playing abroad is a way of pressuring the government into responding to a report which they now have had for more than three months on the preferred stadium option as prepared jointly for the FAI and the IRFU.

Yet again the government are letting us down.

**Peadar** · 10/09/2003, 1:29 PM

Originally posted by opplock
I'm sorry but its just not true that the FAI have a dispensation for the next WC qualifying campaign.

I don't think anyone said they have.
We should have stuck with eircom Park because we'd be moved in by now. Instead the FAI got bribed, Bernard O'Byrne got shafted and we ended up with nothing.

**Countyman** · 10/09/2003, 1:35 PM

Do you all think 50,000 irish people will pay megabucks for a midweek international in the UK 5 times in a year and a half??

10,000 maybe but cant see 50k travelling. Its bad enough trying to get to Lansdowne.

I certainly wouldn't go.

Croke Park is the best option.

and forget the barstoolers...that would blow their yearly budget for their pilgrimiges to Glasgow and the like.

**pete** · 10/09/2003, 2:10 PM

The govt are due bad "soon" to give their answer for the FAI/IRFU report.

I wonder if the recent booing Bertie been getting at Lansdowne (does the same happene in Croke Park?) make him more inclined to win back from public approval & a few votes by approving the FAI/IRFU stadium? Given the govt seem to be fecking up on a daily basis now throwing a couple of hundred million at a stadium would be cheap vote buying...