The Football Association of Ireland welcomes and supports an upcoming Humanitarian Aid Fund Raiser football fixture between Ireland and Ukrainian fans in Dublin on March 25th with all proceeds to be donated to the Red Cross Ukraine appeal.

The game, organised by the Irish Football Supporters Partnership consisting of members of fans groups ISN, CRISC and YBIG, will be played at Whitehall Stadium on Friday, March 25th after Home Farm FC offered the use of their facilities free of charge.

IFSP Chair John O’Neill remarked: “As football fans we want to offer our support and solidarity to our friends in the Ukraine at this awful time and what better way is there to do that than via a football game between Irish supporters and a team of Ukrainians living here in Ireland.

“For many years we have enjoyed football occasions together and since 2011 we have regularly competed as the Irish team at an annual fans tournament in Lviv where we have made many friends. This is an opportunity for Ireland supporters to offer them real support at a time when they need it and we encourage all Irish fans to row in behind this fund raising game.”

FAI Chief Executive Jonathan Hill has welcomed the announcement of the fans game which will be played at Whitehall Stadium on the eve of the Centenary friendly against Belgium.

“This is a fantastic gesture by our own loyal fans in conjunction with the Ukrainian community in Ireland,” said Hill. “I know fans of the national sides of both countries have always enjoyed a fantastic relationship and this match, which will raise much needed funds for humanitarian relief and the Red Cross appeal, is a fitting product of that relationship. As an Association we wish all involved every success with this initiative.”

Tickets for the charity game will be available via Future Ticketing at https://embed.futureticketing.ie/c/ybig-ukraine/ with 2,000 match tickets available at €10 each while fans who can’t attend the fixture invited to purchase ‘virtual’ tickets. Future Ticketing have waived all fees for this fixture. Entertainment will be provided in the Home Farm bar at Whitehall after the match with folk and ballads group Catalpa topping the bill.