FAI officials yesterday acknowledged that there is a match ticket crisis in the making, within hours of the draw in Switzerland which pitted the Republic of Ireland against Belgium. Initial reactions suggest that the demand for tickets will be greater than at any time since the concluding stages of the qualifying series for the 1994 World Cup.

"It's already shaping up like that and I would like to make it clear that when the needs of the affiliates and those who normally block book tickets have been met, preference will be given to those regular attenders at our home games at Lansdowne Road," said Bernard O'Byrne, the FAI's chief executive.

"Our staff worked through the night to set up the system and, clearly, the next few weeks are going to be hectic. But its the kind of pressure that everybody in the FAI will be happy to have."

The Irish allocation of tickets for the return game in the Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels is a big concern. By rule, the visiting team is entitled to 10 per cent of the entire ticket allocation, which in this instance should amount to approximately 5,000.

It is conceded, however, that this will go nowhere near meeting the demand, and Belgian officials have agreed to talk with their Irish counterparts later in the week with a view to having the allocation increased.

"It may well be that we will have to make a reciprocal gesture and give them extra tickets for the game in Dublin. But we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that as many Irish fans as possible get to see the game in Brussels," O'Byrne said. "There are now significant numbers of Irish people living in mainland Europe and to these must be added the thousands who will want to travel from Ireland for the game," he added.

O'Byrne confirmed that that temporary seating erected at Lansdowne Road for last Saturday's game against Romania will stay in place for the October 29th home fixture.