Without Croke Park, joint bid is on shaky ground

THE FAI and bid organisers remain confident of landing the European Championship for Ireland and Scotland even though the GAA is adamant it will not make Croke Park available for the event.

Earlier this week GAA President Sean McCague reiterated earlier statements that the question of using Croke Park for non-GAA sports will not be on the agenda for the sports organisation’s Special Congress later this month.

Mr McCague’s announcement, on top of the apparent collapse of the Stadium Ireland project, was considered another major setback to the joint Irish and Scottish bid to host the tournament in six years.

The bid organisers had hoped the GAA’s rule banning other sports from being played at their grounds would be relaxed to free up Croke Park as a possible venue for the event.

However Simon Lyons, a member of the team heading the Scotland-Ireland bid, remains hopeful.

“All that is necessary at this stage is intent. It was intent which was signalled in the planning permission for many of the stadiums in the German bid for the World Cup in 2006. And this situation is in a similar light. We realise that this is their (GAA) property and we respect their rights to decide on its use.”

The FAI yesterday reacted by claiming the issue of delivering two stadiums for 2008 was for the government to resolve.

Declan Conroy, spokesman for the FAI, said: “This was the position of the GAA when the UEFA delegation visited Dublin last month to discuss the background to the joint bid.

“The position of the FAI is also exactly as it was then, in other words the FAI are confident of delivering the championship finals of 2008 provided the Government delivers the two stadiums needed.

“Essentially the question of providing two suitable stadiums is one for the Government to solve.”

UEFA delegates reportedly suggested to the GAA that if they were to make Croke Park available for the championships then the stadium would be nominated as a venue for a Champions’ League final.

The UEFA plans to make a final decision on the venue for the 2008 finals on December 14.

The GAA President’s latest statement suggests, however, that Croke Park cannot be included in the package when the joint bid from Scotland and Ireland is taken further in December.