First and deputy first ministers to attend Northern Ireland match in France

The IFA is expecting both Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness to attend Northern Ireland matches in France, in what would be a significant symbolic cross-community endorsement of the team.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and First Minister Arlene FosterDeputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and First Minister Arlene Foster
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and First Minister Arlene Foster

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister have been given open invitations to all three of Northern Ireland’s Euro 16 group games – and any other matches later in the tournament should the team surprise pundits and get out of the group.

An IFA spokesman told the News Letter that the association “believes that they will both attend matches”, although it is not clear whether they will both attend the same games.

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Europe’s governing body for football, UEFA, has reserved a number of seats at each game for the governments of the teams involved.

Invitations were sent to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister before the election, and the new Sports Minister, Paul Givan, has also received an invitation.

There will also be British diplomatic representation at every Northern Ireland game, with the British Ambassador to France attending the first game on Sunday.

The IFA said it is “delighted” that the ministers will be attending games, but stressed that it was “no surprise” to the association as it has a good relationship with the Executive and both Sinn Fein and DUP ministers had attended matches at Windsor Park.

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Last week Mr McGuinness said that he would like to attend both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland matches alongside Mrs Foster.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Inside Politics programme, he said: “I would like very much, if Arlene and I did it, to attend the Republic’s match and to also take in a match with the Northern Ireland team.

“I’d be very much willing to participate in that. I think it would be a good idea.

“It would also, I think, be welcomed by the overwhelming majority of fans who are approaching what I think is going to be a very exciting soccer tournament with some considerable excitement themselves, recognising that there is an opportunity to support two teams from the island.

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“I mean, I’m a mad sports fan. I think it has been good for us that we have one rugby team, that we have one hockey team, that we have one cricket team and I look forward to the time when we have one soccer team.”

When asked by BBC political correspondent Gareth Gordon who he would support if Northern Ireland and the Republic were to come up against each other, Mr McGuinness said that in such a scenario he would support the Republic, but that in any other game he would support Northern Ireland.