The Irish FA is confident next week’s friendly between Northern Ireland and Cyrpus will go ahead despite the bombing of a referee’s car on the island.

The car of Leontios Trattos – a prominent match official in Cyprus – was damaged by a bomb on Friday morning. Nobody was injured in the explosion.

Patrick Nelson, IFA chief executive, said he remains confident the game will go ahead as planned, in Nicosia on Wednesday.

“The latest information is that the incident would have nothing to do with international football and wouldn’t put the game in jeopardy," Nelson told The Irish Examiner.

“However, we’re being sensible, we’re monitoring developments, we’re going to be in touch with the Cypriot FA again later today, we’re waiting for the FCO - the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – to comment on it and we’re keeping our eyes on it.”