**Northern Ireland to Host Belarus in Uefa Match Despite UK Sanctions**
The Northern Ireland football team will play against Belarus on Friday night at Windsor Park in south Belfast, despite guidance from the UK government that Belarus should not be allowed to compete.
The UK has sanctions in place against Belarus due to its support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The government is “disappointed” that Uefa is allowing the match to go ahead, but it has granted visas to Belarusian players and staff.
**Belarus Banned from Other International Competitions**
Belarus has been banned from taking part in other international sporting competitions, including the Olympics and Paralympics. In Uefa competitions, its football team has been playing “home” matches at neutral venues, such as Hungary where Northern Ireland played them in October.
**UK Government Position**
A source told BBC News NI that the UK government’s position is that there should be no Russian or Belarusian representation in international sport. The government had previously signed a pledge with other countries to ban Belarusian footballers from competing in other countries.
**Uefa Statement**
Uefa said 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.
**Why are there Sanctions Against Belarus?**
Belarus is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has become increasingly reliant on Russia for economic, political, and military support in recent years. The government has been criticized for its human rights record, and Uefa has previously banned Belarusian clubs from competing in their tournaments.
**Timeline**
* 2020: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claims a disputed election victory, sparking mass protests.
* 2022: Uefa bans Belarusian clubs from competing in their tournaments due to the country’s human rights record.
* 2023: 100 members of the European parliament write to Uefa asking that Belarus be expelled from their tournaments.
Read More @ www.bbc.com