INTERNATIONAL NEWS:FAI CHIEF executive John Delaney yesterday insisted Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni would be fit and well to travel to Yerevan for the opening Euro 2012 qualifier with Armenia on September 3rd.

Trapattoni had surgery on his stomach on Wednesday afternoon to relieve abdominal pain and is likely to remain in the Mater Hospital until early next week. Whether Trapattoni will be in Wexford this day week to announce the squad for the games with Armenia and Andorra is unlikely, however, Delaney said.

“He’s good. I spoke to him,” said Delaney, at the launch of the inaugural Four Nations Tournament at Aviva Stadium, which will be sponsored by Carling. “He is very much aware of the public interest in his health, and how that can be magnified given how high-profile a figure he is. He is fine. He has been through a minor surgery. I think he will probably be in for another week, but there is no question at this stage that he won’t be with us for Armenia and Andorra. It is just recuperation as he is 71 years of age.”

Despite the fact Yerevan is a seven-hour flight from Dublin, Delaney remained positive on Trapattoni be fully recovered to make the trip.

“It’s still three weeks away, he’ll be fine. You can only take the medical people’s advice and speak to Giovanni, but he’ll be grand. To be honest, it’s better to happen now than if we were going to Armenia. That would have been a blow.”

Pressed on the number of empty premium seats at Aviva Stadium for the Argentina friendly on Wednesday, Delaney, who is to discuss the number of vantage club tickets sold at Saturday’s agm in Wexford, remained defensive.

“You will set your own agenda on this. Your own agenda in your own way,” said Delaney. “We had 95,000 people in two games in the middle of a recession. We have opened it well with Manchester United and Argentina. It’s probably one of the biggest attendances at friendly matches.

“I am pleased that we got in 45,000 and there were 49,000 at the United match.

“We have jumped every milestone in the past that we have been asked to do. We were told we would not build it, told we would not get planning, we would not pay for it. We have jumped every hurdle that we have been asked to in the past. You guys (media) can set your agendas in your own ways, but we’ll keep jumping those hurdles.”

Aviva Stadium will host the first “Carling Nations Cup” which will be played on a six-match league format involving Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland along with the Republic.

The tournament will kick off with two matches on February 8th and 9th with the remaining four games played commencing May 23rd. The fixtures draw will be made in Dublin next month and Delaney is confident that all six games will be covered live on television.

Inquiries were made to England about their participation in the tournament but Delaney said that the then chief executive of the FA, Brian Barwick, felt they had other commitments over the next few years and didn’t want to be involved at this stage.

As for the tournament leading to a joint bid with Scotland to co-host a European Championships finals, Delaney said it wasn’t on the agenda. “We are happy enough to host the Europa League final,” said Delaney. “For me, it’s baby steps first in hosting European tournaments. I think the Europa League is a good step for us. I have often said that I would love to host the European Under-21 championship with the IFA (Irish Football Association).

“There have been discussions in the past with the IFA and when the IFA settles down after changes in its administration I would like to engage them.”