Host duties a €25m shot in arm for Irish soccer

FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill was in bullish form as he spoke just metres away from his former employers in the English FA, well aware from his days as commercial director how a combination of results and staging extravaganzas drive turnover.

TIMELY BOOST: From left, Scottish FA CEO Ian Maxwell, IFA CEO Patrick Nelson, FAI chief Jonathan Hill, Welsh soccer legend Gareth Bale, who is heading the delegation of UK and Ireland, Welsh FA CEO Noel Mooney, and English FA CEO Mark Bullingham, with reps from the host countries, including Shamrock Rovers’ Ade Solanke. Pic: Kristian Skeie/Sportsfile

A SUPPOSEDLY momentous day for Irish football at Uefa headquarters soon turned into a moneyball one as FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill forecasted a €25m windfall from co-hosting Euro 2028.

Hill was in bullish form as he spoke just metres away from his former employers in the English FA, well aware from his days as commercial director how a combination of results and staging extravaganzas drive turnover.