Aidan Fitzmaurice: Next week could be even more bruising for the FAI than the awfulness of Armenia

"For those who live in FAI-land, this should be the quiet spell, time to breathe."

"With the nightmare scenes of Yerevan put aside, there's still a few weeks to go before the next international camp for the men's senior team, by the end of which that tenuous grip on World Cup qualification could be obliterated."

"There's also a gap to the next women's international window, which included a showcase Aviva Stadium date with Belgium."

FAI-land is in a rare quiet spell that offers time to breathe. Nightmarish scenes in Yerevan have been put aside for now. A few weeks remain before the next international camp for the men's senior team. By the end of that camp the team's tenuous grip on World Cup qualification could be obliterated. There is also a gap until the next women's international window. The women's schedule included a showcase Aviva Stadium date against Belgium. The coming interval provides a brief respite but also carries the risk that upcoming fixtures will prove decisive for men's qualification hopes.

Read at Independent