What's happened
Newly released state papers reveal Tony Blair's support for relocating Wimbledon FC to Belfast, aiming to have a Premier League team in Northern Ireland.
Why it matters
The revelation sheds light on the government's efforts to promote unity and cross-community support in Northern Ireland through sports, and the challenges faced in achieving this goal.
What the papers say
The Guardian reports that Tony Blair backed the proposal, while The Times highlights the resistance faced from Irish football authorities. The Mirror emphasizes the opposition from existing clubs in Northern Ireland to relocating a Premier League club there.
How we got here
The late 1990s saw the Labour government pushing for Wimbledon FC to move to Belfast, aiming to promote unity and cross-community support in Northern Ireland through sports.
More on these topics
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Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007.
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Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom and the second-largest on the island of Ireland.
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Northern Ireland is variously described as a country, province or region which is part of the United Kingdom. Located in the northeast of the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland.