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 | | Tuesday, 30 October, 2001, 17:37 GMT Storm over Sunday soccer  Sports Minister Michael McGimpsey established panel A recommendation from a task force set up to create a soccer strategy for Northern Ireland has attracted criticism for suggesting matches be played on Sundays. An advisory panel established by Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Michael McGimpsey made more than 150 recommendations aimed at saving the sport in a new report. The report calls for a national stadium to be established and a strategy to tackle sectarianism as well as saying clubs should include the option of Sunday football, for fixtures where both clubs consent. But the Free Presbyterian Church has said it is alarmed at what it called the "sad decline of reverence for the sabbath". Reverend Alan Smylie said the last time such a suggestion was made in May 2000, the clubs themselves dismissed the idea. 'Decline' "Sunday has been in Northern Ireland down through the years a special day for the worship of God and also a family time when people are together," he said. "But especially we are concerned about the honour of God in this matter. "Where there is further desecration of the Lord's day then I believe there is a sad decline in our society."
Mr McGimpsey said that the matter of Sunday soccer was one for clubs to decide themselves and that he hoped people would take a commonsense approach. 'Commonsense' He said the proposal for Sunday fixtures was was aimed at helping vary kick-off times to try and boost attendance at premiership fixtures in the province. "It certainly works in other parts of the UK. "There are other facilities open on a Sunday, playgrounds are open on a Sunday - why should local teams not be allowed to play on a Sunday?" he said. Mr McGimpsey set up the task force in October 2000 to examine the issues facing soccer. More than 2,500 people were consulted during the process, which has now gone to the public consultation stage. | |
See also:  Top Northern Ireland stories now:  Links to more Northern Ireland stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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