Ireland ask UEFA to host additional Euro 2028 ties after £310m plans to redevelop derelict Northern Ireland venue Casement Park were scrapped

Ireland has asked UEFA to host additional European Championship matches in 2028 after Northern Ireland’s Casement Park ground was ruled out as a tournament venue due to huge renovation costs.

Last month, the UK government ruled out funding for the redevelopment of the GAA stadium due to a ‘significant risk that it would not be built in time for the co-organised event’.

Construction costs were estimated at £180 million when the UK and Republic of Ireland were awarded their joint bid for Euro 2028 in October 2023, with potential costs potentially reaching almost £400 million.

With the Belfast ground deserted, Mail Sport reported in September that Wembley – home to both the semi-finals and final – was likely to play an additional tie.

But ministers in Ireland have called for the fixtures to be moved elsewhere on the island ‘on a regional basis’.

Mail Sport previously reported that Wembley was likely to pick up the reallocated matches

But Deputy Sports Minister Thomas Byrne and Culture and Sport Minister Catherine Martin were keen to see more links developed on the island

Sports Minister Thomas Byrne confirmed that the country had contacted the tournament’s governing body in a bid to have another stadium join Dublin’s Aviva Stadium as a host ground.

“We want more games, we have made our views known to UEFA, we want them on a regional basis, I have spoken about that before,” Byrne told an audience at the national stadium as he helped launch the national Ireland’s strategy for hosting major matches. sporting events., via the Belfast Telegraph.

“Our overarching achievement is that we have more games on the island. There are ongoing discussions about this with the partners, but ultimately it is their decision.

Culture and Sports Minister Catherine Martin agreed that keeping the reallocated game on the island would be a welcome benefit for regional tourism.

‘I think that is ultimately up to the stakeholders themselves to decide. But yes, the more can be held on a wider spread.

It is believed that Irish ministers favor Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork as a possible alternative

‘I also always talk about regional tourism, and looking at the 250,000 people who work in tourism, 70 percent of them live in the regions.’

Suggestions for replacement venues in Ireland include GAA flagship stadium Croke Park in Dublin and Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork, which has a capacity of 45,000.

Ministers have vetoed Casement Park’s £310m bailout after the government sought ‘expert advice and analysis’, according to a letter to the Communities Secretary in Northern Ireland written by the Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and culture secretary Lisa Nandy.

‘The estimated construction costs have risen dramatically – from £180 million when the Euro 2028 bid was awarded in October 2023 to potentially more than £400 million – and there is a significant risk that it would not be built in time for the tournament,’ the letter continued. .

Plans for the redevelopment of Casement Park have been in the works for some time and planning permission has been granted (a proposed 2016 design pictured)

But the stadium has been closed since 2013 and it seemed unlikely the developers would meet their four-year deadline

‘We have therefore unfortunately decided that it is not appropriate for the UK Government to provide funding to build Casement Park in time to host the matches at Euro 2028.’

UEFA had previously visited the venue in February this year amid growing concerns that the ground would no longer be suitable as a hosting venue in four years’ time.

The former GAA venue closed in 2013 but was chosen over Belfast’s Windsor Park, where Northern Ireland internationals play, as its 18,500 spectator capacity was deemed not large enough for UEFA requirements.

Plans to redevelop Casement Park into a 33,000-seat stadium have now been shelved, despite planning permission having already been granted.