Latest news with #IrishFootballAssociation
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Windsor Park in play for Crocker-Donovan rematch
Windsor Park, Northern Ireland's National Football Stadium, remains in contention to host boxing's rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy 20 September is the tentative date with background talks ongoing between the promoter, Irish Football Association and Northern Ireland's Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, to turn the stadium into a boxing arena for the first time since Carl Frampton defeated Luke Jackson in August is understood there is a desire on all sides to make this a reality, but it will be determined by the bottom line and that is to ensure the show can deliver financially.A meeting is scheduled on Thursday with Lyons and later in the month with the Irish FA, who are keen to host the understood that a crowd of circa 16,000 would be required to break even, with the first fight between the pair at Belfast's SSE Arena in March drawing in that occasion, Limerick's Donovan fell to his first career defeat against Belfast's Crocker by way of disqualification, despite dominating the contest, which was billed as a final eliminator for Jaron 'Boots' Ennis' IBF welterweight title. The US-based sanctioning body ordered a rematch between the pair in May, having somewhat sided with the Donovan's team's protest their man - despite having points deducted in rounds six and eight - was harshly treated when finally thrown out bey referee Marcus McDonnell for persistent fouls, culminating with heavy blows landed after the bell in round nine. Their desire to have the initial fight ruled as a no-contest was not way, there has been a desire on all sides to run it back, and that is certainly set to happen, but the where and when is still to be the aftermath of their first meeting, Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport's boss and promoter of both fighters, indicated an interest in moving the rematch outdoors, but that came with the caveat of it making financial is, of course, precedent for the NI Executive to bolster an outdoor megafight, as in September 2013, it rowed in behind Carl Frampton's IBF super-bantamweight title win over Kiko Martinez with a purpose-built, 16,000 stadium erected at Titanic night bolstered the local economy by millions and although this event is not on such a scale, it would prove a huge shot in the it is uncertain whether Ennis will vacate his title and step up to light-middleweight by autumn, the winner could be set with the task of taking on the American for a portion of the title from one of boxing's marquee divisions or indeed, win the vacant strap.
Belfast Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
IFA poised to to follow FA's move in banning trans women from footballing competitions
The Irish Football Association appears set to follow its English and Scottish counterparts after they banned transgender women from competitive female events. The Football Association's (FA) move comes after the UK Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act which clarified that references to sex in the Equality Act meant biological sex. In confirming that trans women would no longer be able to play in women's football in England from June 1, the English FA said: 'We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify and we are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game.' The Scottish Football Association has also announced a new policy that comes into effect for the 2025-26 season, limiting competitive women's football from under-13s upwards to biological women. The IFA told the Belfast Telegraph it will 'review the judgment' from the Supreme Court ruling. They said: 'We will review the judgment and interim guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. We are committed to taking the necessary steps to fulfil our obligations under the Equality Act 2010, as clarified by this ruling.' DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomed the FA's move as 'logical and sensible step' which 'must provide a guide' for others to follow. The Upper Bann MP added: 'Policies short of this clear-cut decision simply aren't sufficient to protect either the integrity or the safety of women competing in sports and the FA's example must now be followed by others, including here in Northern Ireland. 'There is no reason for dither or delay in the protection of women.' Both the English and Scottish FAs had previously allowed trans women to compete in female competitions provided they reduced their testosterone to accepted levels. English cricket is also prepared to join the FA in their rule change, it's understood. The Supreme Court ruling clarified some of the terms used in the Equality Act. Within that, the court ruled that Section 195 of the Act, which allows the lawful exclusion of athletes from gender-affected sports based on sex, was "plainly predicated on biological sex" rather than certificated sex.
Belfast Telegraph
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Larne will not be allowed to host any European matches at Inver Park next season
Gary Haveron's side need just a point from their Saturday evening showdown to book a return to the Uefa Conference League but, as was revealed in the Irish Football Association's licencing update on Friday, the Invermen have registered Ballymena Showgrounds as their home venue for this summer's European qualifying stages.
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hughes expects training centre to have 'huge' impact
Irish Football Association technical director Aaron Hughes has said the newly announced National Training Centre could make a "huge" difference in developing the country's next Wednesday, the IFA confirmed plans to build a new facility on a 50-acre site in Galgorm, near Ballymena. Having found a location for the facility, Hughes says it marks the "first step" in a new journey for Northern Irish football. "As a young player coming through, if you had something like this, you'd want to come and train at it, you'd want to be a part of it," said Hughes. "You'd feel you'd be able to follow in the footsteps of the players ahead. I think last year, when our under-17s were in St George's in the elite rounds, the England senior team were staying there at the same time."Former Northern Ireland captain Hughes, who was appointed IFA technical director in late 2022, added: "For our young players to be able to train and perform alongside the senior players and maybe create opportunities like that, it's what we've been missing for so long." Subject to planning permission, the IFA hopes to have up to six training pitches at the new facility, one of which would be covered, in addition to treatment rooms and meeting rooms. For Hughes, having a settled base for their teams will mean greater control and far fewer logistical headaches. "It's a constant struggle we have at the moment, finding facilities," added the former Newcastle and Fulham defender."If you want to start with our senior teams, you're trying to find facilities that are adequate for high performance and it's not always easy. "Even trying to find slots for training, borrowing off other people and using their facility and you're always having to work around the logistical side of it, even from the point of view of the travel time. "There are so many logistical details that we'll solve by having it all onsite." NTC will be 'vital' for women's football IFA director of women's football Angela Platt hailed Wednesday's announcement as a "milestone moment" for Northern Irish football. She added that the National Training Centre will be particularly beneficial for the women's teams who have been "living a nomadic existence"."The live example is the recent international camp where our women's team had to locate to Leicester to prepare in those elite facilities."From our perspective, we want to make sure we're locating ourselves in Northern Ireland and actually preparing the best we can. "It's going to make a huge difference to our pathaway. Under one roof, somewhere we all belong in terms of that international experience. Elite facilities for our players and inspiring the next generation to want to put on the green jersey."Platt hopes that having a recognised base with top facilities will help Northern Ireland to stay competitive with the nations they are facing in matches. "I've travelled a huge amount during my time with the IFA - I see other nations with good class facilities and I see the progress those nations are making, and we're competing with them. "It's vital for the women's game. It's something we've never had - to train at a good facility. It should bring another dimension to our game."
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
First concept image of National Training Centre revealed
The Irish Football Association will confirm on Wednesday that their new National Training Centre will be located next to the Galgorm Resort, just outside Ballymena. It is anticipated the site will consist of elite pitches and facilities for men's and women's senior and youth teams, with some financial assistance for the project being provided by government. In a concept image released by the Irish FA to the BBC on Wednesday, four outside pitches can been seen with an indoor facility also visible. Senior Irish FA officials will inform members of the IFA Council this week of the decision to proceed with plans for development at the County Antrim resort, with planning permission being sought. The announcement will bring to an end a lengthy period of speculation about potential venues for the venture. The IFA had considered basing the centre the centre in Antrim, but said that "no formal arrangements were ever agreed" for the development of a 60-acre site in the Birch Hill area. Last month a spokesperson for the IFA told BBC News NI: "The council were clear at all times that Birch Hill Road was under strategic consideration along with several other locations, and that exploratory discussions about the site were at preliminary stages. "No formal arrangements were ever agreed and we maintain an excellent relationship with Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council." A statement issued by football's governing body in Northern Ireland back in September 2023 outlined their ambitions that a National Training Centre would "create a second home for Northern Ireland football to complement the excellent match venue at the National Stadium at Windsor Park". "The intention is to create a bespoke high-quality facility with a dedicated 'Northern Ireland identity'. The Irish FA will make a significant investment into the facility and anticipates utilising capital funding from external sources, particularly those that are designed to support national associations in these types of strategic infrastructure projects." The journey to Northern Ireland's national training centre Stephen Watson, BBC Sport NI lead presenter This will be exciting for news for Northern Ireland's national team managers Michael O'Neill and Tanya Oxtoby, who often hold their training camps in England, due to lack of facilities back at home. Remember O'Neill opted to hold his pre-Euro 2016 training camp in Carton House in Dublin, so this facility has been a long time coming. The home for this new facility will be at one of Northern Ireland's luxury hotel and spas - the Galgorm Resort. Their business is expanding and they have recently acquired the Roe Park golf resort in Limavady and Galgorm castle estate for £28 million. Planning permission is still sought but it's my understanding that two training pitches will be built, and this may help attract an international team to use the facilities for a Euro 2028 training base - if Northern Ireland don't qualify. There are lots of unanswered questions about how this will work, and how much funding the Stormont Executive will provide, but it's certainly a step in the right direction for international football in Northern Ireland. We should get more answers later this week.
