Hallgrimsson calls for crucial Aviva change to give Ireland penalty advantage

This should have happened before.

The main complaint about the Aviva Stadium over the years has always been its size, with the tiny north stand a reminder of of the 70,000-seater we could have had if planning permission had been granted.

However, it does make for a cracking away stand, with the visiting supporters segregated in their own private area, ready to go nuts if their side scores at their end.

But this may come back to haunt Ireland if they win their World Cup play-off semi-final, with the play-off final being held in Dublin.

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If that game was to go to penalties, a coin flip would decide which end they are taken at, with a 50/50 chance that Ireland would have to shoot right in the face of screaming opposition support, in their own stadium.

Speaking on the issue, Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson called for change, and noted the fact that Irish fans were put up high in away games to Portugal and Hungary.

He said: “Maybe there is one issue I have with the Aviva, looking back on and reflecting on the games against Portugal and in Hungary, where they put our fans up in the stands as high and far away from the game as possible.

“But the hospitality of the Irish, they give the opponents the best seats in the house.

“So we might need to think that when we play a game as we could do for a World Cup spot, if we have a penalty shootout and the away fans are behind one of the goals.

“We need to think of everything to get any advantage in any area for these matches.

“When Troy scored the 3-2 goal in Hungary, it was like the electricity went off and then you heard the sound from the Irish fans up in the stands.

“But that was on purpose, they do it on purpose. They try to find every advantage. This is what the Irish, even with all their hospitality, should do as well.”