Motorists have been warned about traffic disruption in Belfast due to the parade of hundreds of Swiss football fans on Thursday.

Up to 2,000 St Gallen fans are expected in the city for the UEFA Conference League match at Windsor Park against Larne Football Club.

They asked the Parades Commission to march to the stadium from Shaftesbury Square at 17:30 GMT.

The parade is held at rush hour, in an area of ​​the city. Very affected by traffic congestion in recent weeks..

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said its officers are expecting more than 5,000 spectators at Thursday’s match.

“Supporters, commuters and shoppers are advised to plan their journey in advance, ensuring they allow sufficient travel time as congestion is likely in the area,” a PSNI spokesperson said.

“A build-up of traffic is expected in the Shaftesbury Square, Lisburn Road and Donegall Road areas of south Belfast, as well as the M1 and Boucher Road areas, both before and after the game.”

The match starts at 20:00 GMT.

It is technically a home game for Larne, but their Inver Park ground does not meet the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) standard for hosting Conference League matches.

The PSNI spokesperson added: “We hope everyone enjoys the match and we remind those in attendance to behave in a manner befitting the reputation of their teams.”

St Gallen, from eastern Switzerland, has been part of the Swiss Super League for a decade.

Like Larne, they have lost all of their UEFA league games so far.