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Northern Ireland’s first Sunday home game to be met with religious protests Northern Ireland’s first Sunday home game to be met with religious protests
(about 3 hours later)
Religious protests have been planned in opposition to Northern Ireland’s first ever home Sunday fixture against Finland. The national side have played overseas on a Sunday in the past, most recently in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier in Hungary, but will break new ground in Belfast this weekend. The Evangelical Protestant Society has said it will protest against the crucial Euro 2016 qualifier between Northern Ireland and Finland because it is on a Sunday.
The Irish Football Association has been careful in the past not to arrange Sunday fixtures, and once had an article of association enshrining such a policy, but was powerless to act once Uefa introduced its week of football blueprint for the current qualifying campaign. But that cuts no ice with critics, some of whom have called on the IFA to boycott the fixture. Northern Ireland have played internationals on a Sunday before, most recently against Hungary last September, when Michael O’Neill side’s won with late goals from Niall McGinn and Kyle Lafferty. However, those games have taken place away from Windsor Park and this one against Mixu Paatelainen’s team will be the first to be played on that day in Belfast.
The Free Presbyterian Church is planning to hold a service at its Tyndale Memorial church, located just a few hundred yards from Windsor Park, 75 minutes before the 5pm kick-off. Before Uefa launched its week of football programme for the Euro 2016 qualifiers, the Irish Football Association, sensitive to the situation in Northern Ireland, had always scheduled games to be played on another day. Now, however, it has no choice.
The Evangelical Protestant Society, meanwhile, has issued a statement expressing its dismay at events. “This will be the first time an international football match has been held in Belfast on a Sunday, and it marks another watershed moment in modern Ulster’s increasing rejection of the Lord’s Day,” it read. Seventy five minutes before Sunday’s kick-off, the Evangelical Protestant Society will hold a service at Tyndale Memorial church near Windsor Park. In a statement on its website, the society said it was “deeply saddened” about the arrangements, saying it “marks another watershed moment in modern Ulster’s increasing rejection of the Lord’s Day”.
“Far too many sporting and social events are now organised on Sundays with, it seems, scant regard for the rights of evangelicals who, because of their faith, are unable to be involved. Many evangelical Protestants are ardent fans of the national team and would dearly love to be present at the match. “Our Province once held resolutely to Sunday observance but those days are long gone. Church attendance is in decline and Sunday has become a day for shopping, sport and recreation. Far too many sporting and social events are now organised on Sundays with, it seems, scant regard for the rights of evangelicals who, because of their faith, are unable to be involved.
“We fully accept that we are out of step with the majority of public opinion on this matter, and we suspect that many who claim to be Protestants will be present at Windsor Park on Sunday.” “Many evangelical Protestants are ardent fans of the national team and would dearly love to be present at the match. We wonder what efforts, if any, were made to have Sunday’s fixture rearranged. We also wonder what, if any, consultation has been held with churches and residents in the area around Windsor Park in relation to how the match might affect them.”
The Northern Ireland manager, Michael O’Neill, speaking earlier this week to the Belfast Telegraph, said: “We appreciate and understand people’s religious beliefs – but the game must be played on Sunday, as that date was decreed when the fixture was made by Uefa. O’Neill, speaking earlier this week, said he understood their concerns but his hands, as well as those of the association, were tied: “We appreciate and understand people’s religious beliefs but the game must be played on Sunday, as that date was decreed when the fixture was made by Uefa.”
“We hope for a victory on the night, and for the usual wonderful support from all Northern Ireland fans.” The Northern Ireland manager will hope the demonstrations do not distract his players from the game at hand, one that is vitally important for their progress in Group F. They currently stand second, a point behind the leaders Romania but two above third-placed Hungary.
There was a conciliatory message from Gary McAllister, chairman of the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs. McAllister said: “We understand there will be a protest near the stadium and that is their right. I imagine it will be very peaceful and they are fully entitled to do that. Despite losing their last game to Romania, Northern Ireland are in good form, having won their opening three group games and put in a strong defensive showing in their recent friendly with Scotland. By contrast, the Fins have managed only one victory during their campaign – against the Faroe Islands, ranked 105th in the world.
“But this is not an IFA decision and I don’t think suggestions that the game is forfeited are realistic at all. Since then, two of Finland’s last three competitive games have ended in defeat meaning Paatelainen is under pressure and another defeat could see him being removed from his position. “There is always pressure. The biggest pressures will, however, come from myself, because I always want to win every game. This is not always the case, of course, and there are good and bad moments. The last two qualifying matches have been bad moments and it is clear that we need to improve.”
“It is clearly a matter of choice. Some fans have made the decision not to attend for sincerely-held beliefs and no doubt they are passionate as any other fans. I fully respect those who oppose it but it must be, and it will be, played.”