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UEFA say Republic of Ireland v Slovakia likely to be played in October

The Football Association of Ireland has announced that the Republic of Ireland’s EURO 2020 play...
Stephen Doyle
Stephen Doyle

17.57 21 Apr 2020


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UEFA say Republic of Ireland v...

UEFA say Republic of Ireland v Slovakia likely to be played in October

Stephen Doyle
Stephen Doyle

17.57 21 Apr 2020


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The Football Association of Ireland has announced that the Republic of Ireland’s EURO 2020 play-off against Slovakia is now likely to be played in October.

The match was originally due to take place in Bratislava in March but was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The FAI has also been informed that the UEFA Nations League games are set to go ahead as planned in September.

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The association's interim CEO Gary Owens attended a tele-conference meeting with UEFA today.

Owens told FAI TV that the new Ireland boss Stephen Kenny could have as many as five games to play before the trip to Bratislava for the semi-final of the Euro 2020 play-offs.

In the interview, which will be broadcast later this evening, Owens revealed: "There has been a slight move on that.

"Originally, we thought it may well be November but it now looks like the semi-final is the preferred option in October.

"They don’t want to have the semi-final and the final of the play-offs in the one month.

"It looks like the Nations League matches will be in September and October with the semi-final play-off in October and the final play-off in November."

The draw for the Nations League, which was made early last month, saw Ireland pitted against Wales, Finland and Bulgaria.

Kenny's team are due to face Bulgaria away and Finland at home at the start of September before hosting Wales ahead of a trip to Finland in October.

The Wales trip and home game against Bulgaria are fixed for Novemeber.

However, UEFA are looking at the possibility of Nations League triple headers in order to try and free up space for the play-off matches.

The play-off final will see the winners of the Slovakia v Ireland match taking on the winners of the tie between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Northern Ireland.


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