Clubs are not allowed to play Irish League fixtures on Sundays

A vote by Irish Football Association members to lift the ban was narrowly defeated at a specially-convened meeting in Belfast on Thursday.

Members voted 69 to 28 to lift the restrictions, short of the 75% majority needed to bring in the change.

The IFA's president, Jim Boyce, said that he believed it was only a matter of time until the ban went.

"There were many people who I know came in the past and were adamant that this would not be changed but who did change their minds," he said.

"So we're maybe a step closer, but at the end of the day it's a democratic society and we didn't get the 75% majority."

IFA chief executive Howard Wells said that he was in favour of change.

'Different population'

"I'm in favour of the reality that the world has moved on and Northern Ireland is moving on economically and socially - we have now a much different population now than we had several years ago," he said.

Maura Muldoon, chairperson of the Women's Football Association, said the restriction had to go to enable the sport to be all inclusive.

"The chief executive spoke about new groups coming and living in Northern Ireland and if we want other people to be involved in soccer then we have to be saying that the game is open to everyone," she said.

Reverend Philip Campbell of the evangelical Caleb Foundation backed the decision and said that Sunday should be kept special.

"One of the issues that I think would concern people is what would happen to people who live near football grounds," he said.

"There's extra traffic and parking - they would be denied the choice of being able to enjoy a quiet family day."

It is understood that the decision means the IFA is the only national association within UEFA to still maintain a Sunday playing ban.

The rule was first introduced by the IFA more than 60 years ago.