Soccer

John Delaney targets March 2015 friendly with England

Republic of Ireland have not met neighbours in Dublin since match was abandoned in 1995

FAI chief executive John Delaney. Photograph: Getty Images
FAI chief executive John Delaney. Photograph: Getty Images
Mon Feb 03 2014 - 15:20

FAI chief executive John Delaney has suggested March 2015 for the Republic of Ireland's first friendly against England in Dublin since 1995.

The two sides met at Wembley in May 2013, when Shane Long's header was cancelled out by Frank Lampard, and a return leg was always on the cards, with the two associations in "regular contact", according to Delaney.

“I would be hopeful it could be played in March next year,” he told the BBC today. “But there are no guarantees.”

He added: “We will wait until the European draw on February 23rd, because if England are in our group the friendly would be pushed back a bit.”

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Ireland are second seeds for the Euro 2016 draw, with England among the teams in Pot One. The two sides have no met competitively since the qualifiers for the 1992 European Championships, when they twice drew 1-1, firstly at Lansdowne Road in November 1990 and then at Wembley in March 1991.

Delaney added it was “right” that last year’s game was played at Wembley, given the last time the teams met was in Dublin in 1995 when the game was was abandoned in the first half after English fans rioted at Lansdowne Road.

“There was a reciprocal agreement for them to come to Dublin (after the May fixture),” said Delaney. “I thought it was right that we played the first match at Wembley because the last time we played them was the 1995 game.”