Belarusian Footballers May Not Be Granted Visas For Match With Northern Ireland

• 15.10.2024, 8:17

Due to UK sanctions.

The Nations League match between Northern Ireland and Belarus may be postponed. The game is scheduled for November 15 in Belfast. But it's not clear whether visas will be granted to the players and staff of the visiting team, reports BBC.

It's all about Britain's sanctions against Belarus over its support for Russian aggression in the war in Ukraine.

‘There are difficulties with the home game against Belarus in November. We are waiting for a decision on this, as it could be our last home game until March [next year]. We will have the match, the only question is whether we can play in Belfast. The decision is not in our hands,’ said Northern Ireland head coach Michael O'Neill.

If the UK government does not authorise the game to be played in Belfast, the Northern Ireland Football Association will have to look for another venue. A spokesman for the association said it was ‘in contact with relevant UEFA and government officials on this matter’.

The UK Home Office did not clarify the situation:

‘It is established government policy that we do not comment on individual cases. We cannot confirm whether all members of the Belarus national football team will be refused entry to the UK without detailed information about each individual.

On October 12, teams from these countries have already played their first match in the Nations League. There were no goals in Hungary (due to sanctions the Belarusians have to take opponents on a neutral field and without spectators) - 0:0. After three rounds, the Belarus national team is leading in its group with five points. On October 15, it will meet with Luxembourg in Hungary.