Play-off venue crux

Lansdowne Road will not be available to the FAI for one of the dates which FIFA has scheduled for the play-offs for second-placed teams in the European section of the World Cup groups. Last night's victory over Lithuania has all but guaranteed Ireland a place in these play-offs.

The two-legged ties which will decide who will fill the last four remaining European places at the tournament have been scheduled by FIFA for October 29th and November 15th, but Lansdowne Road will not be available to the FAI on the latter date as it will be being used by the Irish rugby team for their match against the All Blacks.

Irish manager Mick McCarthy came up with his own novel solution when asked about his feelings on the subject earlier this week. "We'll have to talk to the powers that be in Croke Park," he said.

"I don't know what the pitch is like but from a distance it looks fine," he added. "I was there to watch the hurling final last year and it's great venue. We'd fill that wouldn't we and there'd be a great atmosphere."

FAI General Secretary Bernard O'Byrne said yesterday that he would discuss the situation with both the IRFU and FIFA as soon as he arrives back in Ireland from Lithuania. He remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached which will avoid the FAI having to reverse the order of the games in the event of Ireland being drawn to play their second playoff game at home. "We would hope to get permission to play on a different date from FIFA and come to a mutual agreement with the other team," said O'Byrne. "We have already flagged it to FIFA and had informal discussions with the IRFU regarding a switch, but there was no point in trying to sort out anything concrete because we would have looked silly if we hadn't won this (Lithuanian) game."

The IRFU have confirmed that they have discussed a number of possible alternative dates with the FAI for the putative fixture. "As far as I know there is a certain amount of flexibility at FIFA level on the dates and we would attempt to facilitate the FAI in any way we could," said IRFU secretary Philip Browne. However, he added that there was "no question" of switching the New Zealand game to another date and none either of the IRFU allowing Lansdowne Road to be used for a soccer match in the week or so before a major rugby international.

That means that if Ireland are drawn to play away first in the play-offs, a scenario which would be generally considered favourable, the FAI would appear to face the options of bringing the game forward 10 days or attempting to stage it immediately after the New Zealand match, probably the next day.

The former option would involve Ireland and whoever they are drawn against playing two games within a week while the latter would involve immense logistical problems as large numbers of seats would have to installed on the terraces in less than 24 hours. Obtaining agreement to either from the other national association involved may yet prove a problem.

O'Byrne, however, remains optimistic that a solution can be found without the FAI having to agree to play the home leg first even if the tie is not drawn that way.