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An England fan being led away by police during the riots at Lansdowne Road in 1995. Billy Stickland/INPHO

The FAI are 'on alert' ahead of the visit of England, says John Delaney

Roy Hodgson’s side will be at the Aviva a week on Sunday.

JOHN DELANEY IS hopeful that next week’s game against England at the Aviva Stadium will run smoothly.

The visit of Roy Hodgson’s side for Sunday week’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland will see an England team play in Dublin for the first time since 15 February, 1995.

On that occasion, the game was abandoned in the first-half due to violence instigated by England fans. Ireland were leading 1-0 at the time thanks to a David Kelly goal.

FAI chief executive John Delaney was asked about the fixture this morning on RTÉ Radio One. He said: “I just hope that after the England game, which is played at 1 o’clock on the 7th of June, that we’re talking about the football and no other events, like the previous time in ’95 when England came and we had difficulties with the riots.

“So please God the game will pass off well. It’s an early kick-off at 1 o’clock. Please God that both anthems will be respected and please God we’ll be speaking about the match and not any other events around the game.”

In relation to the security measures being put in place ahead of the game, Delaney said: “We’ve been working very closely with An Garda Síochána and the English FA in that regard. There’s 3,000 English supporters coming to the match, it’s an early kick-off. We’re on alert. Obviously we have to be on alert because there’s a certain element of risk attached to the game.”

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