'Last minute decision' could be made to move Ireland’s playoff with Slovakia

© Lukas Schulze - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images Theodore Theodoridis, UEFA General Secretary, and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin

UEFA admit it could be a “last minute decision” to move Ireland’s playoff with Slovakia behind-closed-doors - or to another country.

European football remains on high alert amid the escalating coronavirus crisis.

There are no confirmed cases in Slovakia, but neighbouring Czech Republic has three and there are 21 people infected in Austria.

Nine of those cases are in Vienna alone which is only 40 miles from Bratislava.

Mirror Sport reported today how a senior UEFA source said contingency plans are in place for the March 26 showdown in Bratislava.

And today, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and general secretary Theodore Theodoridis confirmed that a late decision is on the cards.

© INPHO/Pascal Muller A view of the UEFA logo

Theodoridis said: "We are in contact with the governments and are taking games on a case by case basis.

“The only case we had to face until now was the Inter Milan-Ludogorets game and there was a decision to play it behind closed doors.

“That was following the recommendation of the Italian government.”

Yesterday, Switzerland announced it was postponing its domestic league for the next two weeks at least because of coronavirus.

And quizzed about the Euro playoffs later this month, Theodoridis said today: “It’ll be a case by case and it’ll be a last minute decision very close to the date of the match.

“We have been working on different scenarios. Don’t forget the Euros start in June, we have plenty of matches that start in a couple of weeks.

“So there are different scenarios that can be implemented. Allow us not to share any further details right now.

“There are different scenarios for the more urgent matches that are coming in two weeks time. There are plans for everything.”

“We have to deal with it on a case by case basis, we do want to overreact.”

Gallery: The 30 best Irish players right now (FourFourTwo)

UEFA boss Ceferin is confident the Euro finals will go ahead as planned this summer, with Dublin one of the 12 host cities.

Ceferin said today: “Do you know how many concerns we have when we organise a big competition? Now we’re organising a big competition in 12 countries.

“We have security concerns, we have political instability concerns, especially in 12 countries and one of the concerns is that virus.

“We are dealing with it, and we are confident we can deal with it.”

Ceferin added: “Let’s try to be optimistic. Don’t think about dark scenarios, there is time for that later.”

UEFA EURO 2020: Every qualifying team so far (Photo Services)