A decision on whether the Republic of Ireland's European championship game against Yugoslavia goes ahead in the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade next Saturday, is still finely balanced.

With UEFA scheduled to rule on the matter at noon today, FAI officials detected a marginal shift in its intransigence over the postponement the game, in telephone conversations with officials in Zurich over the weekend.

Significantly, that was before Russian intervention opened up the possibility of a new round of diplomatic moves designed to head off imminent NATO retaliation for Serbian atrocities in Kosovo.

"We again acquainted them of our Government's advice in the matter and of the insurance implications if the game goes ahead," said Bernard O'Byrne, the FAI's chief executive.

"They are fully informed of our concerns and fears for the safety of our players and supporters and we expect them to act on them."

"It's a pity that the matter has been allowed to drag on so long but hopefully, it can no be resolved to everybody's satisfaction tomorrow [Monday]."

UEFA, apparently undecided as to whether the Irish are taking a moralistic stand on Kosovo or expressing genuine fears about the safety of the region, was still adamant on Friday evening that the fixture would go ahead as scheduled.

If there is a shift in stance, it is almost certainly motivated by the possibility of insurance companies withdrawing cover for a squad of players, valued in the region of £70 million.

That may happen if the threatened NATO intervention materialises and Yugoslavia is officially declared a war zone by the insurers. UEFA's Executive Committee is due to meet in Zurich tomorrow but the decision on whether the Belgrade game goes ahead will, effectively be made, in a series of telephone calls, involving members of the Euro 2000 championship committee.

Although one tour operator has already cancelled plans to transport 300 Irish supporters to the game, the bulk of the travelling arrangements are still in place, pending today's decision.

If the game goes ahead on Saturday, Mick McCarthy will have to replace Liverpool's Phil Babb and, possibly, Dennis Irwin. Babb, who was almost certain to retain his place in central defence, was taken to hospital after crashing into a goal post during Liverpool's one-all draw against Chelsea at Anfield yesterday.

Irwin sustained lateral ligament damage to his knee during a tackle in Manchester United's game at Southampton on Saturday and is said to be extremely unlikely to recover by next Saturday.

"Frankly, from what I've heard of the injury, I wouldn't expect Dennis to be available," said McCarthy. "We got a phone call from Liverpool this evening to say that Phil Babb was out and anybody who saw the incident on television, will scarcely be surprised by that.

"I don't know what his injury is but watching on television, it looked pretty nasty. To lose one and possibly two defenders of their quality is a huge blow but at this stage, there is nothing much we can do about it.

"Problems like this always seem to occur before big games and we just have to make do with the best we've got. I've now called Steve Carr of Tottenham into the squad and he is expected to join up with us tomorrow afternoon."

Carr, who has represented Ireland at every level up to under-21, was promoted to the squad as a late replacement, before the game against Romania at Bucharest last April but in the event, wasn't required to leave the bench.