2008 finals’ bid not reliant on Croke Park being available

UEFA officials were yesterday told that the Irish bid for the European Championship finals of 2008 was not contingent upon Croke Park being made available by the GAA.

European football officials were given a written guarantee, on behalf of the Government/FAI liaison, that two stadiums of the required standard would be in place to enable Ireland host one of the four groups of four teams that comprises the final tournament of UEFA even if Croke Park was not involved.

This emerged in the course of discussions in Geneva last evening after Scotland and Ireland had made their final presentation to those officials charged with deciding between the seven applicants for the 2008 championships.