An independent review of the Irish Football Association (IFA) must be completed before cash is made available for stadium schemes, according to the Northern Irish sports minister.

The BBC reported that Nelson McCausland has reiterated his call for a review before millions of pounds worth of funding is invested in upgrading the country's rugby, GAA and football venues. Windsor Park (football); Ravenhill Stadium (rugby) and Casement Park (GAA) - all in Belfast - are set for support after it was decided that a single site would not be built at the Maze prison site.

According to the BBC, McCausland said the funding would not be released to two of the sports if there was a "difficulty" with the third. "If there is a difficulty with one or other of the sports and some reason for delay, then we will look at it at that time. However at this point, we are pressing ahead on a three sport basis," he said.

The news comes a week after the IFA council withdrew proposed changes to a series of its articles of association, which had been put forward by Dunloy Football Club.