Northern Ireland’s UEFA Euro 2020 Path B play-off semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina next month will now be played in Sarajevo rather than in Zenica, it was confirmed today.
The game on Thursday 8 October (7.45pm start, UK time) was due to have been played at Zenica's Bilino Polje Stadium.
However, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Federation asked both UEFA and the Irish FA if the game could be switched to the Grbavica Stadium in Sarajevo because of the poor condition of the pitch in Zenica following a UEFA Nations League match against Poland earlier this month.
UEFA and the Irish FA have now both agreed to the switch for what will be a behind-closed-doors match due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The Bosnian FA said the playing surface at the Grbavica Stadium, where Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Northern Ireland 2-0 in a Nations League encounter two years ago, is “in very good condition”.
