The Football Association have been assured the violence that marred the Euro 2020 final will not be held against the UK and Ireland’s bid to land the tournament in 2028.
On Sunday, as Sportsmail exclusively revealed on October 16 home nation associations ditched their original plan to host World Cup 2030 to focus on bidding for Euro 2028 following a £2.8million feasibility study.
The decision comes after UEFA privately made clear that a joint bid from Spain and Portugal for World Cup 2030 would be their preferred option, effectively making a UK and Irish bid futile.
The Football Association will be part of a UK and Republic of Ireland bid to host Euro 2028
However, European football’s governing body has provided encouragement that an effort to hold Euro 2028 would be successful, though Russia – who successfully held the previous World Cup – are also understood to be considering their own bid.
Italy, who were also set to launch a campaign for Euro 2028, are ready to focus their attentions on hosting the 2032 tournament.
Speaking in September, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin appeared to play down the disorder that took place outside Wembley ahead of the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy in July and implied the trouble would not damage any future bids to host tournaments.
UEFA president Aleksandr Ceferin is likely to be open to a bid from the UK and Rep of Ireland
The Euro 2020 final was hosted by Wembley last summer but was marred by violence
And it is understood that the FA have now received further assurances that the chaotic scenes outside Wembley – where the final of Euro 2028 would almost certainly be played – that marred last summer’s European Championship would not be a major issue.
UEFA are also said to be satisfied enough with Baroness Casey’s report into the shambolic scenes at the national stadium for it not to impact a formal Euros bid.
The Government is still to sign off the bid for Euro 2028 but the FA are hopeful they’ll announce their support in the coming weeks.
Whitehall had pledged £500million for grassroots football if an effort to host the World Cup in eight years time proved successful. It is understood the FA are still awaiting confirmation that the same level of cash would still apply for a successful Euros bid.
The rioting at the Euro 2020 final last July was described as ‘a source of national shame’
Dame Louise Casey’s review said ‘a horde of 6,000 or more ticketless fans’ ruined the day
As it stands, a joint bid will see matches held in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
However, Northern Ireland need to increase the capacity of Windsor Park – though they are planning to do so.
Euro 2028 currently remains a 24-team competition, but an increase to 32 has been mooted.
The closing date for registering an intention to bid is on March 23, with an announcement of vying nations on April 5.
Thousands of ticketless fans broke into Wembley for the England vs Italy Euro 2020 final
Security barriers were compromised after a surge of thugs broke into the national stadium
Ticketless England fans managed to breach security checks before sitting inside Wembley
‘Following a full feasibility study, and in light of the current uncertainty around the future format of the tournament (World Cup 2030), we accept the conclusion of the five football associations that now is not the moment to proceed with a bid.
Julian Knight, the committee chair for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: ‘It’s encouraging to see that the UK and Ireland FAs have given up on their World Cup vanity project to focus on a more achievable bid.
‘However, it’s unacceptable that £2.8 million in taxpayer money was wasted on a pipe dream that was clearly doomed from the start. Football in the UK needs to sort out its reputation at home before we can go after the biggest tournament.’
