Updated at 10.34
THE FAI ARE set to submit their bid to host Euro 2020 this afternoon, with UEFA requiring all applications to be in by today.
The upcoming competition will take on a unique format — whereas previously, one or two countries have exclusively hosted major international tournaments, a number of nations will host this event, with the FAI’s decision to launch a bid for one of the available spots approved by the government earlier this month.
Should Ireland’s bid prove successful, the Aviva Stadium will be given the green light to host four fixtures — three group matches and a knockout game.
Scotland and Wales are thought to be among the other countries submitting a bid, though Czech Republic and Poland have confirmed that they’ve withdrawn from the running.
A decision on which countries are chosen as hosts will be made in September.
First published at 10.03
Fingers crossed
We messed up our joking bid with Scotland the last time due to Bertie bowl n few other amateurish things. Scots regretted bidding with us big time. Hopefully this one will come through
“amateurish things” is right!! All we did was blow millions on making fools of ourselves.
Not a fan of having the Euros across a number of cities, but I’d certainly be keen for a handful of top-end, knockout matches here!
Knowing the FAI, they’ll probably make a bolloc*s of it…
No probably about it
Agree. I wouldnt trust the FAI as far as i’d throw em.
Say what you want about John Delaney but he is a consummate bureaucrat. Like him or loathe him I would have him as CEO of my company in a second. When he is finished with the FAI he will get a job with UEFA and will do well in that bureaucratic organisation, which in turn will benefit us in the future.
He is a constant massive drain of the funds. Funds that should be going towards developing a proper league not one which still has Dublin university student teams along with 40 others from various areas of dublin.
They have never even built a decent stadium of their own, while the GAA are redeveloping yet another, one in a long line they have built over the years.
The FAI are a low class scammer outfit reliant on their support base not caring and being happy to blindly cheer on some English team feverishly and of course on occasion a bunch of second rate soccer players in an IRFU owned stadium.
@Tribesman. Your absolutely right with some of the points you made, but JD didn’t invent the FAI. I think we all can admit it was pretty shambolic before he had anything to do with it. Lansdowne Rd has transformed into a state of the art stadia now. And also what can you do if soccer fans show allegiance to foreign clubs.
God this better happen.
UEFA continuing with their good work to destroy football with this ridiculous format.The tournament should be held in one or two countries like always.
Idea is smaller countries get a chance, that’s good surely?
Smaller countries can still get chance under the traditonal format,and it will feel like a proper international tournament not one that will be just an international version of the champions league.The FAI could easily collaborate on a tournament with the Welsh and Scotttish F.A.s. or one staged between Lithuania,Estonia and Latvia.
Can’t wait to watch Slovakia v Greece in the Aviva, it’ll be a cracker.
@Diramuid
Russia v Ukraine would be a cracker :)
The general Irish footballing public doesn’t deserve an event like this on their door-step, let them trot over to England for it if they want.
Idiot.
And before you give out about me committing the heinous crime of supporting an English team (Leeds) there isnt even a League of Ireland club in my county. The closest one, Monaghan, was allowed go to the wall. If the FAI dont care about it, why should I??
The general Irish public, never mind the footballing public, doesn’t deserve an event like this on their doorstep. Imagine all the hooligans that some of the European clubs will bring… I feel sorry for the genuine soccer fans but there is most definitely a hooligan element attached to the game that spoils it for the genuine fans and we don’t need the security bills that come with a major soccer event like this.
It’s the public fault not the fai. To busy in pubs watchin sky
Well if there isn’t one in your county then you’re off the hook! Much more of a connection between Cavan/Fermanagh/Tyrone/Donegal/Down/Armagh and Liverpool than there is between any of those places and a stupid LOI club!
The ignorance of that response is amazing. 1. There’s clubs in the counties you named 2. How could an English club EVER have a stronger connection than any Irish one no matter where it is.
If that’s the case shouldn’t people in Cavan prefer to go to Manchester to watch Euro2020 than Dublin, “much more of a connection” no?
Liverpool even
Down Fermanagh Armagh are in a different league plus they have teams baliinamallard portadown Armagh city etc, cavan do not have a team though
@Shane. We should do everything possible to hold games, the benefits to the economy would be huge.
Typical Barstooler response “Its the FAI’s fault”
So you support a club in another Country because there is no team in your County. Do you not see the irony in that?
You can make all the excuses you want, if the people of Monaghan had supported the club they’d still be there.
Also, I’m including the FAI in the group of people who don’t deserve it.
Is Irish soccer that popular anymore?
Still the 2nd biggest participation sport on the island after GAA so yeah quite popular
No
Pretty sure it has the most participants for a team sport.
@Not Eric R
Have you not heard of the GAA?
What’s the GAA?
Have a look at the Irish sports council’s figures there. If you want you can lump, football and hurling in as one and there’s still less. Unless there’s been a huge swing in the first 4 months of this year (there hasnt) I’m right.
Number of teams does not indicate participation nearly 800,000 members of GAA clubs
It was yourself that mentioned active participants Wayne.
This is all irrelevant really. Hopefully we get to host a game!
Dose this mean we’ll automatically qualify for the tournament?
Oh yeah, 13 host cities so each selected nation automatically qualifies…don’t be such a dope!
A Ryan if that’s an answer to me, I think it’s countries than take part in this tournament, not cities, but please do let me know if this will be changed by 2020
Cities will be chosen as host cities, not host nations. There will be 13 host cities in 13 nations.
Thank you
Padraig. They would rather watch football in England anyway. Just ask an irishman who he supports. I support Arsenal and I am from Dundalk. All the plastic Liverpool fans be celebrating soon enough. Don’t forget to boo Gerrard in the world cup.
Will any matches be played in dalymount or tolka?
Why would matches be played there? Better chance of having one or two in Ferrycarrig Park.
Yeah, the final and all the England group matches.
Absolute Crazy if Irl got it, give it to Scotland/wales/iceland. WHY? look at the state of our league, we dont support our league, barstool nation, most Irish ppl despise the LOI. Barstoolers = Fake fans.
Nice comeback, don’t address my point whatsoever.
The only way we will get to play in it
They want to host them today? I think they’d be better off waiting another 6 years or so.
Maybe they should try and get Croke Park, they would hardly say no to an 82,000 capacity stadium