Treacy's Tehran plans up in the air

Treacy drinking in life as a tour operator

BBC Online's Lyle Jackson tracks down former Republic of Ireland star Ray Treacy who is now an official tour operator.

Irish fans are turning their backs on the second leg of the play-off - because alcohol is forbidden in Tehran!

Tour operators believe the booze ban has put off supporters who would normally have travelled anywhere to support Mick McCarthy's team.

But if the Republic of Ireland qualify there would be quite a party on the flight back to Dublin.

Ray Treacy, a former Republic star, is now the Football Association of Ireland's official tour operator.

I will not be held responsible for the state in which some people arrive back at Dublin airport

Ray Treacy

He is keeping his fingers crossed for a happy homecoming on 15 November.

"Usually, when Irish fans travel abroad they are greeted like manna from heaven because of their drinking habit and the money they leave behind," he said.

"In Tehran there is no drinking, so the appeal is not so great for many Irish fans.

"We leave on Monday morning and from then on we will be high and very dry.

"On the flight back, however, things could be a little different.

''As soon as we leave Iranian airspace, and we have qualified for the World Cup, I will not be held responsible for the state in which some people arrive back at Dublin airport."

Shortage of time and visa restrictions have given Treacy and his team a few headaches over the last week.

But he has encountered worse on his excursions with the Irish team.

Big change

Bomb-hit Belgrade and Turkey in the aftermath of its earthquake a couple of years ago have been on his itinerary.

"Sometimes I wonder if I am a war correspondent or a tour operator," said Treacy.

"We did not have much time to prepare for this journey. Nothing could be done until we knew who we were playing.

"I travelled with Mick McCarthy to see the first play-off between Iran and the United Arab Emirates in Tehran.

The whole thing took 36 hours and we were paid £25 each

Ray Treacy

"I was curious about going there but when you see the freedom people have it is actually very interesting.

"Tehran is a beautiful city and the people are so hospitable.

"They seem to have an affinity with the Irish.

"Most people in football circles recognised Mick McCarthy.

"And you could see taxi drivers' eyes light up when we told them where we were from."

Treacy has been in the travel trade for 23 years.

And the former bustling West Bromwich, Charlton and Swindon forward said today's chartered flights were a big change from when he was playing.

"I remember going on a trip to Argentina in the late seventies," he said.

"I was part of a League of Ireland select which included Paul McGuinness, brother of Sinn Fein MP Martin, at left-back.

"We were told it was a direct flight to Buenos Aires. But we went via London, Lisbon, Recife, Sao Paulo and then Buenos Aires.

"The whole thing took 36 hours and we were paid £25 each."

Changed days indeed.