Euro 2008 hosts stung as stadium plan collapses

THE joint Austrian-Swiss bid that clinched the right to stage the 2008 European Championships has run into trouble after plans to build one of the four promised stadiums in Austria collapsed.

The bid beat off stiff competition from several other countries, including a joint bid from Scotland and Ireland, which ran aground after dithering on Ireland's two nominated stadia.

As part of the agreement, Austria pledged to build a brand new stadium in the southern city of Klagenfurt. But the 44m project as was originally proposed has collapsed after the German Investment Group that was behind it was sacked by city officials and the Austrian Football Association.