Irish football fans are already counting down to Euro 2016.
For the first time ever, fans north and south of the border will get a chance to support a side at a European Championship as both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have qualified for this summer’s tournament in France.
There may have been well publicised cases of tension between the Irish FA and the FAI over the years, especially in relation to players, but it seems that, on the political front at least, there are efforts being made to smooth things over.
Last night, Belfast City Council passed a motion that will see the Republic of Ireland team, as well as the Northern Ireland team, honoured at a civic reception in the city just before Euro 2016.
The proposal was made by the SDLP, and was voted through despite opposition from Unionist Councillors.
PUP representative Billy Hutchinson is believed to have been opposed to the idea over fears that James McClean my become a target of abuse.
PUP Cllr Billy Hutchinson says he did not call a protest, says he said he fears the presence of one ROI player cld spark protests
— Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) January 5, 2016
The reception is likely to take place just weeks before the teams fly out to France for their opening games in early June and the reaction to the news has been predictably mixed
https://twitter.com/gary_ni/status/684504713426001920
https://twitter.com/_JonnyIrwin/status/684663730311938048
I don't know how many times I have to say this, but please do us all a favour and "KEEP POLITICS OUT OF SPORT".
— Liam Beckett MBE (@liam_beckett) January 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/Collyb13/status/684680960508596224
Not sure how I feel about the joint civic reception for NI & ROI, sad that tribal politics has got involved in sport on such an achievement
— Alan Anderson (@PrintIsntDead) January 6, 2016
Fantastic to hear that #BelfastCityCouncil voted to host a joint reception for NI & Republic teams #EUqualification
— Owain Gardner 🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@DrOwainGardner) January 5, 2016
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