Billy McCoubrey wanted Linfield's game to be moved

Saturday's Daily Mirror Irish League fixtures will clash directly with Northern Ireland's Euro 2004 qualifier against Armenia.

In a move likely to infuriate many local football bans, the Irish League has moved to block attempts by clubs to put back games on Saturday which would allow supporters to watch the Armenia match on BBC television.

Linfield had agreed to a request by Lisburn Distillery to put back their match from the appointed time of 1500 GMT to 1600.

The international starts at 1400 and will finish shortly before 1600.

However, a statement from the Irish League on Wednesday morning insisted that all games must start at 1500.

"At this crucial stage of the season, we must insist on a level playing field and staggered kick off times do not present this. All member clubs have been informed of this decision," the statement said.

The Irish League's intervention is surprising as the organisation's vice-president Billy McCoubrey was quoted in the press on Wednesday morning as saying that matches could be put back to 1600 if clubs agreed.

McCoubrey is also chairman of Linfield who were set to kick off at 1600 at Ballyskeagh.

Attendances are Saturday's Irish League matches are certain to be affected by the clash. South Antrim Assembly member Norman Boyd has slammed the refusal of the League to change the kick-off times.

''With this move, it is clear that the IFL and IFA are not capable of administering local football,'' he said.