Ian Mallon: Political football plays havoc with security for Ireland v England

However, a high-level security task force - codenamed ‘Operation Deargóil’ — was told on Tuesday that it will be “at least next week” before either side will confirm their attendance.

Hesitancy is understandable given the occasion could be the perfect photo-op for both men or depending on events, a PR disaster for the Irish and British governments.

Garda sources have revealed that the “will they, won’t they?” scenario is playing havoc with security planning – for what is already expected to be the most heavily policed Irish sporting fixture on record.

Currently 1,000 extra Gardaí have been drafted into the capital over the September weekend, with that number set to swell significantly should Mr Starmer attend the match.

When contacted by The Pitch, both the Taoiseach’s office and 10 Downing Street were unable to confirm if football would be part of the day-long itinerary.

Indeed ‘No 10’ would not confirm that Keir Starmer was even coming to Ireland – despite committing to a September 7 meeting when he met Simon Harris in Chequers last month.

“Nothing will be announced until the Monday before (September 2),” a Downing Street spokesman said.

One of the key challenges will be getting the UK PM into and out of the Aviva cleanly.

Team buses are the easy part, even one carrying the England squad, but a British Prime Minister and all of the high-level security protocols attached is another matter entirely, say Garda sources.

Such an operation would effectively require a shutdown of key thoroughfares around the venue, a challenging situation given the match will be a sell-out with tens of thousands of fans making their way to the ground.

Garda insiders at the centre of the public order operation have told this column that the reasons for Starmer’s hesitancy is due to “an event with too many unknowns”.

What is known is that 2,500 England supporters will officially be in attendance inside the ground having gained tickets through official English FA ticketing channels.

However, there is concern about how many supporters will come from England without tickets, with one Garda source saying he expects that number to “at least double in size”.

“This unknown quantity is a real concern, because we simply do not know how many are coming in and who they are,” said the source.

Security ops around the match have already received a significant setback with UEFA refusing to bring the kick-off forward to 2pm, from its current 5pm slot.

An evening fixture presents a two-pronged challenge for the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region.

It gives longer drinking time for England supporters in the lead-up to the game, and less likelihood of fans being able to get back to the UK afterwards, meaning a Saturday night stopover in the capital.

While there is a ‘low risk’ of trouble around the Aviva, due to a ‘wall of steel’ perimeter being enforced in the streets surrounding the stadium to prevent ticketless fans gaining access — unlike what happened at Wembley at the Euro 2020 final — the key challenge comes later.

It’s how events unfold as thousands of England fans make their way to the city centre, to potentially join thousands of others, where public order pressures will be felt most.

Gardaí are also concerned that trouble may come from Irish fans intent on attacking England supporters around town — as happened in 1990.

That scenario evolved following a 1-1 draw at Lansdowne Road in a Euro qualifying match, where local troublemakers fought pitched battles with England hooligans on O’Connell Street.

“This really is another unknown quantity - they could come from anywhere around the city, or even further afield, in big numbers and this is perhaps the most considerable threat to public order,” said the Garda insider.

“These are not typical Ireland fans, rather elements who may be set on making their mark for whatever reasons.”

The Lansdowne Road riots of 1995 will also be in the minds of those around long enough to remember how right wing thugs rioted and reined seating and objects down on Irish supporters after Ireland went a goal up in that ‘friendly’ international.

England did play here in 2015 for a friendly game which passed without major incident.

However these are more volatile times.

Far-right extremism is once again a key concern around this game, say sources, particularly in the wake of a period of national unrest in the UK following the murders of three children in Southport.

Keir Starmer met with Metropolitan police ahead of the kick-off of the English football season this month, over the threat of violence at matches following outbreaks of rioting across Britain organised by fascist extremists across the UK.

With racial tensions and violence marking an early baptism of fire for Starmer, it’s understandable that the Aviva and a potentially volatile contingent of English supporters may not be a good look for the rookie prime minister.

Starmer is a rare breed in Downing Street, the first UK PM since Gordon Brown who is a genuine football supporter, being a keen Arsenal fan.

The match between the Republic of Ireland and England is the first competitive game between the two countries since a 1-1 draw in Wembley

in 1991, a night marred by outbreaks of fighting inside the stadium and around London.

Next month’s fixture will undoubtedly be a toxic affair – the inevitable booing of the Irish anthem, along with the presence of former Ireland international Declan Rice, will add to a heady mix of tension inside the stadium.

As Harris and Starmer figure out the best course of action around the game, those organising the security operation are looking for the men to show real leadership and make up their minds quickly.

The Garda Press Office declined to comment when contacted by The Pitch.

TG4 to broadcast US College Classic game 

This weekend’s Aer Lingus College Football Classis between Georgia Tech and Florida State University has sold out ahead of Saturday’s NCAA opener on Irish soil.

Some 47,000 fans, mainly from the United States, will watch the first game of the College Football season – now a fixture on the Irish and US sports calendar.

A number of key events will take place through Dublin to mark the game including a tripleheader of match-ups at Energia Park, Donnybrook – including a game between the Irish Wolfhounds and Team GB sides.

American football clinics will take place at Ballyboden St Enda’s GAA and Kilmacud Crokes GAA grounds, also on Friday.

The game itself takes place on Saturday with fans asked to be in their seats from 4:30pm for the Aviva clash which kicks off at 5pm.

Bet365 Champions League partnership adds to Irish regulation woes

Online gaming and gambling operator bet365 has become “the first global sports betting partner of the Champions League”, Uefa has announced.

The three-year deal will see the UK firm sponsor the world’s premium club football competition from this season through to 2027.

The deal will see bet365 LED branding feature during games between Europe’s top clubs, adding a layer of complexity to Irish hopes of eradicating all branding from television screens before the watershed.

While the Gambling Regulation bill is limping its way towards law, how the Regulator plans to deal with this development will make for fascinating discovery.