Northern Ireland’s UEFA Nations League match against Belarus this month will go ahead as planned after the visiting side were granted visas by the British government.
The Athletic reported last month that the League C Group 3 fixture on November 15 was set to be played as scheduled at Windsor Park, Belfast, despite the British government’s position that no representative Belarusian team should play in the nation. However, this informal position was not enforced for visa applications.
The Irish Football Association (IFA) and UEFA, European football’s governing body, have both confirmed that the game will be staged in Belfast after the British Home Office processed the Belarusian visa applications.
Belarus is in the UK’s sanctions against Russia due to its government’s diplomatic support of the invasion of Ukraine since 2022, despite widespread international condemnation. Belarus has allowed its territory to be used by the Russian army to launch attacks into northern Ukraine.
Russia was banned from competing in UEFA and FIFA competitions after invading Ukraine. Belarus was not banned by either body but due to UEFA sanctions, the nation is not allowed to host international matches or competitions.
Due to UEFA sanctions, Belarus have played all three of their Nations League home matches behind closed doors in the Hungarian city of Zalaegerszeg — including this month’s goalless draw against Northern Ireland. They have previously played home matches in the Serbian city of Novi Sad and the Hungarian capital Budapest.
In October 2022, UEFA said it was “constantly monitoring the situation” in Belarus and could yet take “further decisions” against the eastern European nation after troops from the country were deployed with Russian forces near Ukraine.
Speaking after their home victory over Bulgaria in September, Northern Ireland head coach Michael O’Neill said it would be “unfair” if his side could not host Belarus in the fixture.
Northern Ireland are top of their Nations League group with seven points from their four matches, including a five-goal home victory over Bulgaria last week. Belarus are second in the group with six points, ahead of Bulgaria (five) and Luxembourg (two).
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