THE UEFA EUROPEAN U17 Championship Group B opener between France and England in Longford was delayed by half an hour because the vehicle transporting the referee and his officials to the game took a wrong turn en route to the City Calling Stadium.
Ahead of kick-off, it was suggested within the ground that the officiating team had instead been taken to Athlone Town Stadium in error.
It’s now understood that their driver made a wrong turn at Kinnegad, taking a left for Galway instead of a right for Sligo in ‘genuine error’. As to whether or not the referee and his assistants ever got to see Athlone remains unclear.
Kick-off in Longford was subsequently pushed back to 7:30pm.
Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:
