BBC SPORT | Football | FAI denies Euro 2008 reports

The Football Association Association of Ireland has denied newspaper reports that the joint Scottish-Irish bid to host Euro 2008 is dead in the water.

It was reported that documents released under Ireland's Freedom of Information Act stated that conditions demanded by Uefa had not been met.

Euro 2008 bid dented

The Irish Independent said that those involved in the Irish side of the bid had been told in August that guarantees of two suitable stadia would have to be made by mid-September.

When Uefa inspectors arrived in Ireland to examine the country's preparations for the bid, no guarantees were available for any stadia.

The newspaper report suggested that the Uefa inspection in September was an "empty gesture" with the bid already doomed.

However, FAI treasurer John Delaney told BBC Sport Online that the bid was "very much alive".

As far as Uefa is concerned the key date is 11 December

FAI treasurer John Delaney

"We discussed the bid with the government as recently as yesterday," said Delaney on Friday.

"They will tell us by the end of November whether Ireland is going to be able to come up with the two necessary stadia that the bid requires.

"We have closer relations to Uefa than anybody in this country and the fact is that Uefa is happy with things as they stand at the moment.

"As far as Uefa is concerned, the key date is 11 December when bids have to be formally presented," added Delaney.

The FAI treasurer said Portugal's bid for 2004 was accepted after that country's government had given a guarantee that the necessary stadia would be in place.

"Several of the Portuguese stadia weren't built when their bid for 2004 was accepted.

Bertie Ahern is hoping to convince the GAA to make Croke Park available for Euro 2008
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern

"The government guarantee was the key thing.

"In our case, the Irish government has given the private sector until 18 October to submit proposals for investing in the National Stadium.

"A number of companies have already expressed strong interest so obviously things will become a bit clearer next week," said the FAI official.

Mr Delaney said that the FAI had not asked the Irish Government about the prospects of GAA stadium Croke Park being part of Ireland's bid.

The GAA has recently reiterated its stance that it will not allow soccer to be played at Croke Park although the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern continues to hope that the organisation might reverse its policy.

The documents obtained by the Irish Independent quoted Sean Benton, Commissioner of the Office of Public Works and chief executive of the Campus Stadium Ireland Development company.

'Alive and kicking'

He reportedly told a government working group that he had met a Uefa "preview team" in Abbotstown on 7 August.

"It was made clear that Uefa would need certainty on the availability of two stadia suitable size and design by mid-September or the bid will fail," said Benton.

The newspaper report suggested that the subsequent visit of Uefa inspectors to Ireland in September was an "empty gesture".

A Uefa spokesman said after the visit that the Scottish-Irish bid was "alive and kicking".


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