Minister at NI-Belarus match despite government guidance

Minister Lyons seen attending the match on Friday evening

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons attended Northern Ireland's game against Belarus despite UK government guidance that the game shouldn’t go ahead.

The UK has sanctions in place against Belarus due to the country's support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

BBC News NI understands the government is "disappointed" Uefa allowed the match at Windsor Park in south Belfast to go ahead - in spite of this it granted visas to Belarusian players and staff.

A Department for Communities spokesperson said: "Any matters relating to sanctions are for UEFA and the UK Government, who issued the visas to the players.”

They added: “Gordon Lyons was tonight proudly supporting Northern Ireland in the UEFA Nations League match against Belarus.

"He has expressed his delight at the result and the continued success of our country."

Uefa told the BBC that Belarus was not permitted to host matches, but it did not comment on its position on the country playing games elsewhere.

The Irish Football Association has not responded to requests for comment.

Belarus has been banned from taking part in other international sporting competitions including the Olympics and Paralympics.

Posting on social media after the game, Lyons wrote: "Great result for Northern Ireland this evening"

In Uefa competitions its football team have been playing their "home" matches at neutral venues, such as Hungary where Northern Ireland played them in October.

There had been some uncertainty around whether or not the match would be allowed to be played in the UK or if the Belarusian players would be granted visas.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill previously said it would be "unfair" if the match was moved.

• NI to face Belarus at Windsor Park

• NI v Belarus: It would be 'unfair' if game moved - Michael O'Neill

Belarus last played at Windsor Park in 2019

A source told BBC News NI that it was the UK government's "unequivocal position that there should be no Russian or Belarusian representation in international sport. We have issued guidance to our domestic sports bodies to that effect".

"We are disappointed that Uefa has now followed this approach and has allowed Belarusian teams to participate in international competition," they said.

"The decision to allow the participation of Belarus in Uefa competitions and to play the fixture in Northern Ireland is a matter for Uefa and the Irish Football Association."

The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is a close ally of the Russian President Vladamir Putin

The previous Conservative government signed a pledge with a number of other countries agreeing that Belarusian footballers should be banned from competing in other countries.

The pledge says that "athletes selected by Russia and Belarus, administrators and teams representing the Russian or Belarusian state should be banned from competing in other countries, including those representing bodies, cities or brands that are effectively representing Russia or Belarus, such as major football clubs".

The pledge was signed by the then Culture and Sport Secretary Nadine Dorries.

Jack Chambers, a junior minister in the Irish government, signed on behalf of the Republic of Ireland.

In 2023, 100 members of the European parliament wrote to Uefa asking that Belarus be expelled from their tournaments due to its human rights record.

Uefa did not respond directly to any of the issues raised but pointed the BBC to a statement it released in March 2022 about the issue.

"All Belarusian clubs and national teams competing in UEFA competitions will be required to play their home matches at neutral venues with immediate effect," it said.

"Furthermore, no spectators shall attend matches in which the teams from Belarus feature as host.

"The Uefa executive committee will convene further extraordinary meetings, on a regular ongoing basis where required, to reassess the legal and factual situation as it evolves and adopt further decisions as necessary."

Why are there sanctions against Belarus?

A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's administration has become increasingly reliant on Russia for economic, political and military support in recent years.

Lukashenko has hosted Russian forces and allowed them to use Belarus as a staging ground.

• What is happening in Belarus?

Putin backed Lukashenko after he claimed a disputed election victory in 2020, sparking mass protests that almost ousted him from power.

The scale of the protests were unprecedented for Belarus with more than 100,000 packing into central Minsk, the capital, for four consecutive Sundays after the election.

Europe's longest-serving ruler, Lukashenko took office in 1994 during the chaos caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Often described as Europe's "last dictator", he has tried to preserve elements of Soviet communism.

Much of manufacturing has remained under state control, and main media channels have been loyal to the government.

At the same time, Lukashenko has tried to style himself as a tough nationalist with a direct manner, defending his country from harmful foreign influences, and a guarantor of stability.