Northern Ireland suffer Nations League relegation THREE HOURS before final game after Romania are awarded 3-0 walkover win for cancelled match with Norway following Covid-19 outbreak in Scandinavian side
- Northern Ireland were relegated from Nations League B ahead of final game
- Romania were awarded an automatic 3-0 win for cancelled game vs Norway
- Sunday’s match was cancelled after a positive coronavirus test in Norway camp
- The relegation comes three hours before their final match against Romania
Northern Ireland have been relegated from Nations League B three hours before their final game against Romania after their opponents were awarded a 3-0 walkover win for their cancelled match with Norway.
Norway were unable to travel for Sunday’s game against the fellow Group 1 side after defended Omar Elabdellaoui tested positive for coronavirus.
A UEFA panel ruled an automatic win should be given to Romania, taking them six points above Ian Baraclough’s side ahead of the pair’s clash at Windsor Park this evening.
Northern Ireland have been relegated from Nations League B after Romania were awarded an automatic 3-0 win because of a cancelled match against Norway due to coronavirus
Ian Baraclough’s side suffered the drop three hours before their match against Romania
It completes a miserable international period for Northern Ireland, who have picked up just one point in Group B1 and were beaten 2-1 by Slovakia in their Euro 2020 play-off.
UEFA said it took the following decision: ‘To declare the 2020-21 Uefa Nations League match between Romania and Norway, that was scheduled to be played on 15 November 2020, as forfeited by the Norwegian Football Association (who is therefore deemed to have lost the match 3-0) for being responsible for the match not taking place.’
The Norwegian FA has five days to appeal the ruling and it is yet to decide if it will do so.
Baraclough’s side have lost four of their five Nations League games this campaign, with their only point coming in a 1-1 draw against the Romanians.
Norway have had to name a completely different squad to fulfil Wednesday’s game against Austria in Vienna, in a game that will determine who is promoted to League A.
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