IRELAND’s Euro 2016 qualifying fixture against Gibraltar is set to take place in Portugal as scheduled, despite speculation that the game could be moved to a number of other venues, including London.
Reports that Gibraltar’s three home games in 2015 would need to be hosted by a different venue appeared today citing problems that arose from their first “home” game of the campaign in Faro, Portugal, last month as explanation for a proposed move.
A number of organisational issues were encountered during Gibraltar's 7-0 defeat by Poland at the Estadio Algarve with many complaints directed at the security company that was hired for the game.
But a spokesperson for the Gibraltar FA told The Irish Post that they will proceed with a new security company and that at present all of their Euro 2016 qualifiers will go ahead as planned in Portugal, including the fixture against Martin O’Neill’s side on September 4.
“We fired the security company straight after the game [against Poland], and the Georgia game goes ahead as planned in Faro [October 14, 2014],” the spokesperson confirmed.
“If the game was to be moved procedures would have to go through UEFA, and we would have to take into account fans that have booked tickets, holidays and trips for games that have been announced in the future, of which the Ireland game is one of them.
“At the moment nothing has changed. It’s escalated in media reports, at the moment all of our active marketing is still the same. If something was to change it would be before the new year.”
The Gibraltar FA is required to stage its home games overseas while construction of its own new stadium is taking place.
