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Problems for Romanian Football Federation (FRF) less than a month before their friendly match against Spain.
Romania and Spain are due to meet in a friendly game on 27 March as part of their 2016 European championship preparations, but the game has been put in doubt because of the safety issues.
The game was scheduled to be played at the National Arena in Bucharest but the Ministry of Interior have put a question mark over the match due to safety concerns.
However, president of the Romanian Football Federation Razvan Burleanu has published an open letter to the public and Ministry of Interior calling for the authorities to allow the game to be held in Bucharest.
Burleanu claims that Spain also insist on the game to be played in Bucharest adding that FRF will do everything in their power to make the match go ahead as initially planned at the National Arena where he ‘feels safer than in his own home’.
“There is increased risk of fire in certain departments at the stadium, but the venue already hosted a number of high-profile events such as the UEFA Champions League final in 2012 and dozens of other matches until 2015.”, claims Burleanu.
National Arena has been closed for almost four months due to lack of fire safety authorisation, but the president of FRF insists that the authorities should allow the game with the reigning European champions to be played in the country’s capital.
Spain and Romania have met 15 times already, winning five times each and sharing five draws.
Romania finished their qualifying stage second in Group F behind Northern Ireland, while Spain qualified for the Euro 2021 finals by topping Group C.
European title holders have been drawn in group D along with Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia, while Romania have been pitted against France, Albania and Switzerland in Group A.
