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23/06/2006
Sunday soccer ban to be maintained
A ban on football matches being played on Sunday's in Northern Ireland, is to remain in place.
A move by the members of the Irish Football Association to lift the ban, was defeated 69 to 28, during a meeting last night, when the the final tally fell just short of the 75% majority needed to impose the change.
Commenting on the result, IFA president Jim Boyce, said that he believed that it was only a matter of time before the ban went and added that a number of people who were originally against the idea did change their minds.
He continued: "We're maybe a step closer, but at the end of the day it's a democratic society and we didn't get the 75% majority."
IFA chief executive Howard Wells said that he was in favour of change, and said: "I'm in favour of the reality that the world has moved on and Northern Ireland is moving on economically and socially - we have now a much different population now than we had several years ago."
It is understood that the decision to keep the ban means the IFA is the only national association within UEFA to still maintain it.
The rule was first introduced by the IFA over 60 years ago.
(EF/SP)
A move by the members of the Irish Football Association to lift the ban, was defeated 69 to 28, during a meeting last night, when the the final tally fell just short of the 75% majority needed to impose the change.
Commenting on the result, IFA president Jim Boyce, said that he believed that it was only a matter of time before the ban went and added that a number of people who were originally against the idea did change their minds.
He continued: "We're maybe a step closer, but at the end of the day it's a democratic society and we didn't get the 75% majority."
IFA chief executive Howard Wells said that he was in favour of change, and said: "I'm in favour of the reality that the world has moved on and Northern Ireland is moving on economically and socially - we have now a much different population now than we had several years ago."
It is understood that the decision to keep the ban means the IFA is the only national association within UEFA to still maintain it.
The rule was first introduced by the IFA over 60 years ago.
(EF/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry with clear skies this evening. Patchy cloud will increase at times overnight, but some clear spells too. Light winds and some patchy shallow mist or fog towards dawn. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
