Republic's World Cup campaign not threatened - yet! - March 2, 2000
Despite the scrapping of all Irish sports fixtures because of the threat of foot and mouth disease, Andorra and Nicosia have no plans to cancel the Republic of Ireland's World Cup games this month - as yet.
The Spanish and Cypriot embassies in Ireland both say it is "too early" to make a decision - implying that as long as the Republic of Ireland remains free of the disease, as it is at present, no such cancellation will be contemplated.
Even if cases of the disease are confirmed in the Republic, Cyprus and Andorra may stop short of cancelling the games and instead impose a ban on supporters travelling from Ireland.
Some 8,000 fans are expected to make the trip for the Cyprus game on March 24, with a somewhat smaller figure expected in Barcelona four days later for the Andorra game.
Many other Irish fans will be planning to travel from England or parts of the Continent - but unfortunately they may be tarred with the same brush, since it would be impossible to distinguish Irish people resident on the Continent from those merely passing through France or Spain en route from Ireland. To be effective, the ban would probably encompass anyone travelling on an Irish or UK passport.
The team and officials - most of whom are based in England, where the disease is rampant - would not present a risk, since the logistics of disinfecting one plane-load or two would be relatively simple.
However, the two countries may prefer to postpone the games rather than suffer the financial loss implicit in banning Irish supporters.