The Republic of Ireland's European championship game against Yugoslavia in Belgrade next Saturday is in doubt because of growing security threats in the region.
Yesterday the Department of Foreign Affairs advised citizens not to travel to Yugoslavia "in view of increasing concerns regarding political and security situation", and said those now there should consider leaving. The Department estimates there are about 15 Irish people living in Yugoslavia.
But UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe, insisted that the game will go ahead as scheduled. "The situation may change from day to day but at this point, there is no reason to make alternative arrangements for the fixture" said a spokesman.
"We are in daily contact with different embassies in Belgrade who advise us that the situation there is stable and that the game can be played as arranged. Their advice, it seems to us, is more relevant than that of people living outside Yugoslavia".
Mr Bernard O'Byrne, FAI chief executive, said that his members would find it difficult to go against the government's advice. "The safety of our players and supporters is for us, the paramount issue," he said. "We can talk about football matters at a later date".
One tour operator, Michael Stein Travel, has cancelled a charter flight taking 300 Irish supporters to the game. But Ray Treacy Travel, the FAI's official carriers, said there had been no sign of anxiety among the 300 booked to travel with them.
The EU Commissioner for humanitarian affairs, Ms Emma Bonino, said a boycott of the match by the Irish team would be symbolically important as part of the international community's reaction to the actions of President Milosevic's government in Kosovo.
In Britain the Football Association cancelled a friendly match between England and Yugoslavia scheduled for Wembley next month, saying it would be "insensitive in the extreme and wrong" in the current circumstances.