Coronavirus: Irish FA updates

Covid-19: Irish FA update

June 26: Further to the announcement by the Northern Ireland Executive that contact training is permitted from Monday 29 June we have produced some documents which will help continue to guide a safe return to football.

Covid-19 return to football update

Whilst spectators are still not permitted at football matches at any level, we have this afternoon, received clarification in relation to parents attending under age games (U-18 and below). Where a parent or guardian is transporting a child to a game, they are deemed to be assisting with the fixture and are therefore permitted to attend.

fonaCAB Irish Junior Cup semi-final venues confirmed

This season’s semi-finals of the fonaCAB Irish Junior Cup will be staged next Monday (20 July) in County Armagh – at two separate venues and behind closed doors.

Irish FA releases ‘A Return to the Everyday Game’ document

Further to the announcement by the Northern Ireland Executive that competitive sport may resume in Northern Ireland at both grassroots and professional level, the Irish FA has released ‘A Return to the Everyday Game’.

Irwin’s Bakery Summer Football Camps cancelled due to ongoing Coronavirus pandemic

The Irish FA Foundation, together with commercial partner Irwin’s Bakery, has taken the decision not to stage its summer football camps in 2020 because of Covid-19.

Irish FA: Covid-19 recovery plan update

The Irish FA has issued an updated document looking ahead to measures to help an incremental return of grassroots football to Northern Ireland.

Belfast club keeps players connected during lockdown

May 26: Belfast club Willowbank FC have been ensuring their members and their families are keeping healthy - both physically and mentally - during lockdown.

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Coronavirus: Irish FA statement on five step government plan

May22: Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson has welcomed the publishing of a framework aimed at delivering a safe return to football at all levels and sport in general.

Irish FA’s coaching courses suspended until it is ‘safe to resume’

May 14: The Irish FA’s Coach Education Team has suspended all courses until further notice due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Irish FA statement on NIFL Premiership Management Committee meeting

May 13: Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson and chief operating officer Sean Murphy were invited to join the NIFL Premiership Management Committee meeting this evening and have released the following statement:

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IFA Foundation and Amalgamation team up to support community outreach work

May 13: The Irish FA Foundation is continuing to provide support to the community during the Covid-19 crisis.

Extension to season suspension - letter to league secretaries and divisional associations

With the current government restrictions remaining in place until 9 May, the Irish FA Board has agreed to extend the suspension of the football season in Northern Ireland until 31 May.

IFA and NI sports bodies urge Executive to reconsider financial support available to clubs

The Irish Football Association, together with Ulster GAA, Ulster Rugby and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum, has written to the Department for the Economy and the Department of Finance to urge that larger clubs across the country be made eligible for the Small Business Grant Scheme and that the Business Rates Relief Scheme be made available for those businesses with a Net Asset Value (NAV) in excess of £51k.

UEFA Women's Euro tournament set to be played in 2022

April 23: The UEFA Executive Committee today confirmed that as a result of the global COVID-19 outbreak the postponed UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 will now be staged in July 2022.

Clubs still able to apply for accreditation

April 21: People and Clubs Accreditation was launched at the end of 2019.

Let the kids get creative in lockdown with our GAWA colouring-in sheets

April 21: Got a football mad child who loves to colour-in? Yes? Then why not download and print off our GAWA colouring-in sheets.

Young players produce videos at home showing off their silky skills

April 20: Participants on the Irish FA’s elite player development programmes for both boys and girls have been honing their skills at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Irish FA and iPRO donate water to healthcare workers on Covid-19 frontline

April 17: A consignment of water earmarked for Northern Ireland’s international football teams has been diverted to the fight against Covid-19 instead.

Specialists from range of sports helping young female footballers to develop

April 17: Know-how from a range of sports is being used to help Northern Ireland’s young elite female footballers to develop their skills.

Work by Irish FA Foundation and GAA coaches in schools to be studied

April 17: Phase one of research into a schools sports programme run by the Irish FA Foundation and Ulster GAA is set to be launched remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Coach’s workout videos aim to keep female players fit at home

April 16: The strength and conditioning coach of the Northern Ireland senior women’s team has produced a series of videos to keep the squad on their toes during the coronavirus lockdown.

Northern Ireland female futsal players among ranks of essential workers

April 16: Before the Covid-19 crisis unfolded Keith Gibson, the Northern Ireland women’s futsal team boss, knew he had assembled a squad of dedicated, hard working people.

Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan pens open letter in response to Covid-19 crisis

April 15: Sky Sports is currently running a series called ‘Captains’ Letters’ across its platforms in the UK and Ireland.

Irish FA, Ulster Rugby and GAA reinforce ‘stay at home’ message during pandemic

April 10: The Irish FA today issued a joint statement with Ulster Rugby and Ulster GAA urging people to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic – and especially over the Easter weekend.

IFA Foundation's partnership with Belfast school thriving despite virus pandemic

April 9: Schools may be closed these days due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic but the Irish FA Foundation is still acting as mentor and teacher.

Coronavirus crisis update – Irish FA actions outlined

April 8: As an organisation we continue to work hard to help tackle and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

NI centurion hails the ‘gladiators’ in coronavirus pandemic frontline

April 7: Northern Ireland Senior Women defender Julie Nelson has applauded a raft of current and former female international players who are working for the NHS and other essential services in the front line during the coronavirus crisis.

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Irish FA Foundation adapting to new working environment

April 3: With most of its staff usually out and about staging everything from coaching sessions to educational workshops and small-sided games, the Irish FA Foundation is having to implement a new style of working during the coronavirus outbreak.

June national team matches postponed by UEFA Executive Committee

April 1: UEFA’s Executive Committee today postponed all international matches in Europe scheduled for June.

Northern Ireland Executive urged to include football in grants scheme

April 1: Irish Football Association chief executive Patrick Nelson has called on the Northern Ireland Executive to provide financial support for Northern Ireland’s senior football clubs.

Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis pens open letter in response to Covid-19 crisis

April 1: Together we can fight back against Covid-19, writes Steven Davis,

New Irish FA campaign is aimed at tackling social isolation

March 27: The Irish Football Association has launched a campaign aimed at tackling social isolation during the current coronavirus crisis.

Football responds to coronavirus by offering support to vulnerable

March 26: Football clubs across Northern Ireland have been doing their bit to help others during the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: Michael O’Neill pens open letter to the GAWA

March 26: Today I should have been preparing the Northern Ireland team to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Path B play-off semi-final of the Euro 2020 qualifiers.

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Northern Ireland team doctor joins the fight against coronavirus

March 24: Northern Ireland’s team doctor is urging members of the GAWA and all footballers and football fans in the country to heed the latest advice aimed at tackling coronavirus.

Coronavirus: Irish FA statement

March 23: The Irish FA Board has agreed to extend the suspension of the football season in Northern Ireland, at both domestic and grassroots level, until 30 April.

Northern Ireland players support fightback against coronavirus

March 22: Northern Ireland players are supporting a social media campaign by the NHS aimed at getting young people here to act responsibly during the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: Northern Ireland Women Euro qualifier postponed

March 20: The Northern Ireland senior women’s team’s Euro qualifier against Belarus next month has been postponed.

Coronavirus: Irish FA suspends raft of programmes until further notice

March 18: The Irish Football Association has suspended delivery of a range of programmes in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

WATCH | Irish FA chief executive says UEFA did ‘right thing’ in postponing Euro 2020

March 17: Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson is fully behind UEFA’s decision to postpone the Euro 2020 Final Tournament until the summer of 2021.

UEFA postpones Euro 2020 tournament until the summer of 2021

March 17: UEFA today confirmed the UEFA Euro 2020 Final Tournament has been postponed until the summer of 2021.

Irish FA statement: Coronavirus

The Irish FA Board has met today. In response to the evolving situation around Coronavirus (Covid-19) and having listened to partners throughout the football family, the Board has suspended the current football season, at both domestic and grassroots level.