BBC SPORT | Football | Irish | Maze row puts NI football at risk

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Tuesday, 10 July 2007, 08:39 GMT 09:39 UK

Maze row puts NI football at risk

Irish FA chief executive Howard Wells has warned that the row surrounding the proposed stadium at the Maze is putting Northern Ireland football at risk.

Political arguments over the issue have included reported disagreements between Sports Minister Edwin Poots and a number of his DUP colleagues.

Wells accused politicians of "pussyfooting around" with the issue.

"If it continues, international football in Northern Ireland is going to be seriously at risk," added Wells.

Last month, the IFA chief warned that the capacity of current Northern Ireland home venue Windsor Park was "very likely" to be seriously reduced because of health and safety requirements.

There have been suggestions that the already reduced current limited of 14,000 could be further cut to 7,000 in the near future.

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Related to this story:

Maze must keep status: McGuinness (07 Jul 07 | Northern Ireland )
Poots 'over-ruled' on Maze site (04 Jul 07 | Northern Ireland )
H-Block stadium swipe 'pointless' (23 Jun 07 | Northern Ireland )
DUP mixed messages over stadium (22 Jun 07 | Northern Ireland )
Railway Stand at Windsor closed (11 Mar 07 | Irish )
No smoking at Windsor NI matches (22 Feb 07 | Irish )
N Ireland face home game dilemma (12 Feb 07 | Irish )
Fans assured Windsor Park is safe (02 Feb 07 | Irish )
Urgent work planned for Windsor (29 Jan 07 | Irish )
Windsor Park judged a 'fire risk' (28 Jan 07 | Irish )

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