New pressure is likely to be put on UEFA today to postpone Yugoslavia's controversial visit for next Saturday's Euro 2000 qualifier at Lansdowne Road.
It follows a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels yesterday when, for the second time in three weeks, the matter was raised by Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews.
As on the first occasion, however, the consensus was that the problem is primarily a sporting one and as such should be dealt with by UEFA.
The European football authority will now be asked to reconsider last week's decision to proceed with the game as scheduled, however the initial response from Zurich is not encouraging.
Dismissing the move as another cynical political ploy, a UEFA official said that all parties were still refusing to make the hard decision.
"If there is a sporting boycott of Yugoslavia we will take account of it," he said. "But while there is much talk, there has been no action from the politicians. Everybody wants somebody else to make the decision for them."
Andrews will report back to a Cabinet meeting in Dublin this morning when, it is expected, the matter of witholding visas from the Yugoslavs, who are due in Dublin on Thursday, will be discussed.
That drastic action would be unprecedented in the history of the European Championship and is viewed as a last resort, to be avoided if at all possible. As an example of indecision it is a classic of its type and may yet be further complicated by the threat of industrial action if, in fact, the Yugoslavs ever make it to Dublin.
Meanwhile, the FAI, like the other players in the controversy, are hoping that somebody else will come up with the answers. In their case, however, it has to be said that after their U-turn of recent weeks, they are scarcely in a position to take precipitative action.
Refusal to fulfil the fixture would almost certainly carry the penalty of expulsion from the championship with the possibility of other sanctions down the road. And deprived of big-match revenue, the association would be headed for serious financial difficulties.
Mick McCarthy, who has come out strongly against the game going ahead, is, apparently, unconvinced that his pleas and those of his players, will be heeded. After earlier announcing that the squad would not re-assemble until today, he revised his plans and instructed them to travel last evening.
Two training sessions are planned for the AUL complex at Clonshaugh today when one of the primary concerns will be the fitness of Coventry City defender Gary Breen.
Breen was pulled out of last Saturday's game against Northern Ireland because of a toe injury, but the word then was that it was merely a precautionary measure, designed to ensure that he was fit for the European fixtures against Yugoslavia and Macedonia.
That is still the feeling within the camp, but McCarthy will obviously need the reassurance of watching him take a full part in training. Lee Carsley took a knock in the Northern Ireland game but the expectation is that he will be available.
James Quigley has returned to the Brandywell following a three-year stint at Glentoran. Quigley has signed for Derry on a one-year contract and is manager Kevin Mahon's second signing for next season.
Quigley joins another home town boy, Joe Harkin, who Mahon signed from Waterford United last week as he continues to strengthen his squad. Ebbe Skovdahl yesterday issued a swift call for unity as he took up the Aberdeen challenge admitting he faces overcoming the legacy of a "genius" in Alex Ferguson.
The 53-year-old Dane has agreed a two-year contract to take charge of the Pittodrie outfit who are now a pale imitation of the club which shone under Ferguson's rule in the 1980s.
Skovdahl was the Aberdeen board's first choice to be their fourth manager in 18 months after securing five titles and three Cup wins during his time at Brondby.
