Games cancelled again - March 13,
2001
The FAI yesterday cancelled all Eircom League and FAI Cup fixtures, along with junior and schoolboy matches, for the third consecutive week, in response to the FMD crisis.
At the same time - in common with the other major sports bodies - the association announced plans for a phased reintroduction of the soccer season from the following weekend, March 24-25.
That weekend is close to the 30-day 'safety' limit after the so-far only confirmed case of foot and mouth on the island of Ireland, at Meigh, Co. Armagh, last month. The FAI hoped to be able at least to give the go-ahead for fixtures between Dublin clubs on those dates.
But events have overtaken that deadline, with the announcement of a suspected case of foot and mouth close to the Border in Co. Tyrone. An exclusion zone has been set up which - as in the Meigh case - extends into the Republic.
If that case is confirmed, the FAI can kiss goodbye to soccer in March and instead restart the 30-day countdown.
The FAI has also banned Irish clubs from travelling to Britain on Easter weekend, April 13-16, and will refuse permission for British clubs to travel here.