Platini’s Turkey warning boosts Celtic Euro hope

Uefa president Michel Platini said yesterday he would not vote for Turkey to host Euro 2020 if Istanbul wins the contest to stage the Olympics in the same year.

But although the statement was widely interpreted as a boost for Ireland’s chances of co-hosting the tournament with Scotland and Wales, FAI sources were quick to point out the status of their involvement currently remains no more than an expression of interest, with any prospect of that hardening into a formal bid still at least 18 months away.

Speaking in Budapest where he is attending the Fifa Congress, Platini – who has previously backed Turkey for 2020 – made clear: “If Turkey is given the Olympic Games, they will not have the Euros. If they don’t get the Olympics and they still bid for the Euros, I will still vote for them.