Dublin set to forfeit Euro 2020 hosting rights with UK likely to get another stadium in boost to Boris Johnson’s plans
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DUBLIN appears set to forfeit its Euro 2020 hosting rights.
But Cardiff, rather than another English city, is likely to be given the chance to take up the four matches planned for the Aviva Stadium.
The FA of Ireland is becoming increasingly resigned to the fact that it will not be able to give Uefa its required guarantees of allowing fans into the Aviva Stadium by next month’s deadline.
Irish Government scientists are reluctant to open turnstiles to fans given the current state of Covid in the country.
And unless there is a change of stance in the next four weeks, it seems likely that the Irish will have to hand back the three group games and last-16 clash - which would involve England if Gareth Southgate’s team win their opening phase.
PM Boris Johnson has invited Uefa to stage more games in the UK if other hosts are unable to meet their requirements.
The PM also offered to joist the entire tournament if required, although that remains unlikely to occur.
Despite the growing doubts about the viability of games in Dublin, Glasgow - due to host the other three games in England’s group - and Bilbao, which is paired with the Irish capital for Group E - Uefa has reiterated its plan is to retain the current format.
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Uefa said: “Since the tournament was announced, as to be staged across 12 countries, it has remained UEFA's intention to stage it in 12 countries."
But that opens the way for Cardiff to be invited back into the Euro party - even if Wales have been drawn to play their three group matches in Baku and Rome.
The Welsh capital was one of the two bidding cities to miss out when the host venues were chosen by Uefa in 2014, along with Stockholm.
Both countries would be likely to be asked if they could help come to Uefa’s rescue should any of the current hosts officially withdraw.
Staging games in Wales would be welcomed by the UK Government and also avoid the scenario of two matches being played in the same country on the same day, as would happen if the Dublin games were switched to England.
Sweden are due to meet Slovakia in the Aviva on June 18, the same day as England play Scotland at Wembley.
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Uefa would have no issues in playing games at the Principality Stadium, which hosted the 2017 Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Juventus and has a capacity of 76,000, some 25,000 more than the Aviva.
Bilbao looks the next most unstable brick in the Euro wall, and moving the games planned for there to Stockholm would at least see the host nation involved in one game, when Sweden face Spain.
But the issues facing Hampden would be extremely problematic for the Scottish Government in the run-up to May’s elections with a significant risk of political consequences if it gives up the right to two Scotland tournament games on home soil for the first time in the country’s history.
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