Bid to play Andorra-Ireland in Barcelona rejected

Ireland says UEFA has rejected a bid to play its 2012 European Championship qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona.

The Andorran Football Association, backed by its Irish counterparts, had requested that the game on Oct. 7 be played in the Spanish city to accommodate an anticipated large traveling support.

But the Football Association of Ireland says UEFA ruled the game must be played at the Estadi Comunal in Andorra.

The FAI says ''the decision goes against precedents set in the past when UEFA and FIFA granted permission for games against Andorra to be played in Barcelona, as lately as England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Andorra.''