Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Northern Ireland friendly with Cyprus to go ahead despite match referee's car hit by bomb

All Cyprus first division matches have been cancelled this weekend with Northern Irish set to travel to Nicosia on Wednesday

Martyn Ziegler
Saturday 01 March 2014 14:28 GMT
Comments
Northern Ireland's Martin Paterson (R) celebrates with team mates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA 2014 World Cup European zone group F qualifying football match between Russia and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's Martin Paterson (R) celebrates with team mates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA 2014 World Cup European zone group F qualifying football match between Russia and Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's friendly in Cyprus next week is expected to go ahead despite the bombing of a referee's car on the island.

All first division matches in Cyprus this weekend have been cancelled but Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson is confident the international in Nicosia on Wednesday will take place.

Nelson, in Zurich for the International FA Board meeting, said: "The latest information is that the incident would have nothing to do with international football and wouldn't put the game in jeopardy.

"However, we're being sensible, we're monitoring developments, we're going to be in touch with the Cypriot FA again later today, we're waiting for the FCO - the Foreign and Commonwealth Office - to comment on it and we're keeping our eyes on it."

The car of a top Cypriot official - named by the Cyprus Football Association as Leontios Trattos - was damaged by a bomb explosion on Friday morning, but no one was injured.

A friendly between Ukraine and the United States is also scheduled for Larnaca on Wednesday due to political unrest in the eastern European country.

England's women are also due to play Italy in the Cyprus Cup in Nicosia on the same day.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill named a 22-man squad for the match, with the likes of Southampton's Steven Davis and West Brom duo Gareth McAuley and Chris Brunt included.

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in