Wembley disputes resolved

A full settlement of all the outstanding disputes over Wembley Stadium has been agreed by the parties involved.

The announcement means the stadium will be open “as early as possible in 2007” and should be the venue for next year’s FA Cup final.

The deal was agreed after meetings between the Football Association, their subsidiary Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) and the stadium builders Multiplex.

A joint statement said: “This agreement will avoid a lengthy and expensive legal dispute and all parties are committed to working together to ensure that the stadium opens for business as early as possible in 2007.”

FA chief executive Brian Barwick said the deal meant major events would be staged at Wembley next year.

Barwick said: “This agreement secures the process of getting the new Wembley Stadium up, running and open to the public.

“We look forward to staging major events at the stadium next year and consider this agreement with Multiplex to represent the beginning of the end of the construction phase. Everyone’s target is now to complete what will be the finest stadium in the world.”