Government abandons Bertie Bowl

The Government today abandoned the Stadium Ireland project and has called on the GAA to open up Headquarters to make the joint Ireland/Scotland Euro 2008 bid a reality.

The GAA has come under increasing pressure to open up Croke Park to soccer following the Government's decision to pull out of the Abbotstown project.

GAA president Sean McCague admitted earlier today the association would allow UEFA a tour of Croke Park next week as a matter of courtesy.

But it now seems likely that the GAA will be pushed into making the visit an official inspection.

Ireland has named Croke Park, a refurbished Lansdowne Road and Stadium Ireland as its three stadia to host games with Scotland supplying the rest.