The frozen snow-laden pitch at Laugardalsvöllur in Reykjavík (Pic: KSÍ)
Northern Ireland’s UEFA Nations League Play-Off second leg against Iceland on Tuesday evening has been called off due to an unplayable pitch in Reykjavík.
The game was due to take place at 6pm NI time at Laugardalsvöllur in the Icelandic capital but has been postponed following heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.
It’s a winner-takes-all tie for a place in League A, with Iceland in the driving seat after a 2-0 away win on Friday.
In a statement, the Knattspyrnusamband Íslands – the Icelandic Football Assocation – read: “The situation and the future are being examined and KSÍ will publish an announcement on its media as soon as the outcome is available.”
With Northern Ireland already in Reykjavík, the game could be rescheduled for Wednesday. However, while the snow is due to end at 3am on Wednesday morning, the freezing temperatures are predicted to continue until at least Thursday, by which stage players from both teams will be expected to start reporting back to their clubs.
The game could be rearranged for Wednesday in hopes that conditions do improve and, were they not, then simply postpone again, at which point the next option would be to reschedule it for November’s international window.
Northern Ireland were aiming to turn around a two-goal deficit at Laugardalsvöllur after Iceland won the first leg 2-0 in Ballymena on Friday, however now they may have to wait almost a month for that opportunity.
The frozen snow-laden pitch at Laugardalsvöllur in Reykjavík (Pic: KSÍ)
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With Northern Ireland’s game called off, BBC Sport Northern Ireland have confirmed they will be live streaming the Sports Direct Premiership game between Coleraine and Linfield instead.
