The Republic of Ireland’s friendly against Denmark tonight is off because of the bad weather in Dublin.
A Lansdowne Road pitch inspection initially ruled the pitch playable but following another night of sub-zero temperatures the terraces were still covered in ice and snow.
The FAI took the decision to call the game off."The terraces and the approaches to them are in very poor condition due to frost and snow,"Chief Executive Bernard O'Byrne said. "After consultations with the Gardai, the IRFU and our own safety officer, Declan McCluskey, it was decided that the risk of deteriorating conditions was too great to allow the game to go ahead. The pitch, while currently playable, is likely to deteriorate and possibly even become unplayable later today or this evening if heavy frost returns."He added that a full refund is available to all fans on production of of their match tickets.
The friendly becomes the first Irish home game to be called off because of the weather since 1968. The opposition on that occasion was also due to be Denmark.
Manager Mick McCarthy said: "The pitch might be playable now. But there's every chance it will freeze over again later, and there's a risk to the players as well as the fans that I don't want to take.
"It is a blow because you always want to play, and we haven't had a game since November. But I don't think it is going to seriously disrupt our preparations for the World Cup qualifiers away to Cyprus and Andorra at the end of March.
"Players like Niall Quinn, Stephen Carr, Jason McAteer and Mark Kinsella are out injured and were not going to play tonight.
The cancellation will cost the FAI more than £350,000.
More than 31,000 tickets had been sold for the Denmark game, and now the huge task of reimbursing the fans will begin.
Ireland will also have to pay Denmark's travelling and accommodation expenses but will not lose any income from television because the game was sold for live coverage to both Sky TV and RTE as part of a package of matches.
The FAI's chief executive Bernard O'Byrne said: "Everybody is disappointed the game cannot go ahead, but public safety has always got to be uppermost in our minds."
Northern Ireland's friendly with Norway goes ahead tonight after the Windsor Park surface passed a pitch inspection.
Scottish referee Kenny Clark gave the match the all clear after he checked the pitch with his two assistants this morning.
Windsor's groundstaff have cleared away the snow from the surface and the stands, and the sun is thawing out the ground.
Irish Football Association spokesman John Quinn said: "The referee has inspected the pitch, and the match is on." - PA