Ireland hoping to arrange England friendly in Dublin
Sport

Ireland hoping to arrange England friendly in Dublin

IRELAND are planning to arrange a friendly with England in Dublin next year in what would be the first clash between the two teams in Ireland since the infamous abandoned game of 1995.

The sides met for the first time in 18 years last May at Wembley in a 1-1 draw, with Frank Lampard equalising after Shane Long headed in the opening goal.

The Football Association of Ireland's chief executive John Delaney said: "I would be hopeful it could be played in March next year. But there are no guarantees.”

He added that the FAI is in "regular contact" with England's Football Association about the possible fixture.

"We will wait until the European draw on 23 February, because if England are in our group the friendly would be pushed back a bit,” he said.

"There was a reciprocal agreement for them to come to Dublin. I thought it was right that we played the first match at Wembley because the last time we played them was the 1995 game.

"It was best that the next time we played them was at Wembley."

The last time England played in Ireland was at Lansdowne Road in February 1995 when a friendly had to be abandoned because of rioting fans.