BBC SPORT | N Ireland | Euro 2008 bid in turmoil

The joint Scottish-Irish bid to host the 2008 European Football Championships is in turmoil after the Dublin Government said it could not pay for a new national stadium.

The bid hinges on Scotland providing six stadiums and Ireland two.

However the Irish Government said on Monday that "in the current circumstances, it is not in a position to provide any Exchequer funding" for the stadium project.

Instead, ministers will now seek private sector funding to secure an estimated �315 million (500 million euro) for the stadium.

Lansdowne Road is set to be used as one Irish venue.

It's inconceivable that the private sector would get involved

Irish economist Jim Power

A new development was seen as vital because Ireland's biggest stadium - Croke Park in Dublin - hosts only Gaelic Games such as Gaelic Football and other sports are banned.

The blow comes just days before a delegation from European football's governing body, Uefa, travels to Dublin to inspect stadiums and plans for the tournament.

It is understood that renewed attempts will now be made to ask the GAA to allow Croke Park to be used for the 2008 European Championships.

A short statement after Monday's cabinet meeting said the government had made the decision because of the current economic circumstances.

GAA soccer ban

A spokesman for Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said he remained optimistic he would be in a position to turn the first sod on the site

However, in reality the stadium project must now be in huge doubt.

Jim Power, a leading Irish economist, said there was no prospect of private investors agreeing to build Stadium Ireland.

"It's inconceivable that the private sector would get involved unless there are patriots out there who want to waste money," he said.

The Irish Prime Minister has been determined to go ahead with the Stadium Ireland plan which has been dubbed in some quarters as the "Bertie Bowl".

Mary Harney is the leader of the junior coalition partner, the PD's
Mary Harney: Victory for PD's

Therefore Monday's announcement is bound to be regarded as a victory for the junior coalition partner the Progressive Democrats who have been highly sceptical about the project.

The Irish Government will now ask the GAA to allow Croke Park to be used on a once off basis at the 2008 European Championships.

However, that would require a rule change by the organisation which precludes soccer and rugby being played in its grounds.

In response to Monday's government statement, GAA president Sean McCague said that only the organisation's annual congress in April could vote to open Croke Park to other sports.

The Football Association of Ireland said it would discuss the announcement at its management meeting on Friday.

The Irish Rugby Football Union, which wanted the new stadium as its headquarters, said it was "very disappointed" by the move.

"We are frustrated that yet another opportunity to build a national stadium has been lost," said an IRFU statement.


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