FAI want England friendly

Ireland bosses hope to host England in 2010 freindly

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 18th November 2008

FAI want England friendly

Lansdowne: Set to be ready in 2010

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The Football Association of Ireland have confirmed that England could be one of the first teams to play at the newly developed Lansdowne Road.

Although the FAI did add that Fabio Capello's men have not yet been asked to take part in the opening fixture at the redeveloped 50,000-seater stadium when it re-opens on August 18th 2010.

Clashed

The two sides have not met since 1995 when England fans rioted and caused the game to be abandoned with Republic of Ireland leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from striker David Kelly.

Ireland have been playing their matches at Croke Park since the re-development at Lansdowne began and due to the ground's association with Bloody Sunday in 1920 it has meant that a friendly with the English has not been possible.

FAI chief executive John Delaney believes that the English FA owe his country a friendly and he is keen to invite them to play at the new Lansdowne Road.

He said: "At some stage, I would like to see England play in Lansdowne Road because there is a game owed.

"There was a time when we drew England all the time, back in the late 80s and 90s, but we haven't come across them too much in the last couple of years.

"Murphy's Law is that if you do organise for them to come to Ireland, you'll draw them in a competitive game.

"Bringing them to the old Lansdowne Road would have been difficult and bringing them to Croke Park wouldn't have been correct given the history."

A game between Ireland and England would no doubt raise questions over security after the infamous match in 1995 but Delaney is confident a match between the two can go ahead.

Second chance

He added: "There are heightened issues when England play, we all know that. But at some stage, we have to get over the issue of the game being abandoned.

"The English FA have promised a game for many years to make up for that incident.

"There are heightened issues, but that could happen in a qualifier. A friendly should be a more benign fixture."

If the two sides were to meet in the coming years it would see Fabio Capello go head to head with his Italian counterpart and Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni.