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FAI chief executive, John Delaney. INPHO/Cathal Noonan

'We'd depend on GAA and IRFU' - Delaney says Euro 2020 bid feasible

Irish soccer chiefs have made ‘an expression of interest’ with Wales and Scotland.

FAI CHIEF EXECUTIVE, John Delaney says that the association have merely entered an expression of interest to host the 2020 European Championships with prospective joint bidders, Scotland and Wales.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the FAI revealed that they will join forces with their British counterparts in exploring a bid.

However, a decision on the destination of the tournament in eight years’ time will not be taken until late 2013 or 2014.

“It’s only an expression of interest at the moment,” Delaney said on RTÉ radio this morning. “What happened there is the Scottish approached us two weeks ago and asked would we look at co-hosting Euro 2020 with the Welsh and themselves.

“So when we went to UEFA last week — I went to the Europa League final — and took soundings from the top UEFA people. They said listen we’d love you you expressed an interest because we want a bidding process. Turkey at that stage were the only country looking at bidding.

“So at this stage it’s Georgia, Turkey and ourselves have expressed an interest. Because of that, anybody else can enter a bid. So the Germans, the English or anybody else can enter a bid.  And I think from the FAI’s perspective, who’s going to look at bidding for it. And then we’ll take a view.

Political football

Whether or not the FAI decide to proceed with a bid for the tournament, Delaney insists the bid is feasible — though it would depend on the cooperation of the GAA and IRFU.

“In total you need nine or 10 [stadiums] so that’s do-able,” he told host Pat Kenny,  ”We’d be depending on the support of the GAA and the IRFU — if you were to look at Thomond Park, another stadium.  So of course you would and that’s something you can’t presume either.

“In fairness the GAA were great with the opening of Croke Park. I rang Paraic Duffy the other morning, my counterpart in the GAA just to tell him that this was hitting the headlines. He appreciated the call, it was only a courtesy call. But we’ve gone no further with the GAA or the IRFU with Thomond Park.

“So it’s early days. I want to see, who else would bid. If one of the bigger countries come in would we have a chance of doing it. Is the bid feasible, could it be done? Yes, it could between ourselves, Scotland and Wales. Would it be a winning bid? That’s something you have to wait and see as to who else gets involved.

UEFA yesterday confirmed meanwhile that countries will still be able to bid for Euro 2020 — even if they did not declare an interest before Tuesday’s deadline.

European football’s governing body said they will now launch a new process which will allow any of the 53 member associations to submit a bid. The  process will last approximately 18 months with a decision expected in 2014.

Hosting Euro 2020 would make us happier, not richer

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23 Comments
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    Mute Chuck Farrelly
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    May 17th 2012, 1:33 PM

    I’d love this. But if it came down to a choice between this and a standalone bid for the RWC in 2023 I’d go for the rugby. Less security, all-island, more venues used and therefore more towns flooded with good natured, enthusiastic drinkers spending their dolla bills

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    Mute Brian Murphy
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    May 17th 2012, 1:58 PM

    Delaney looks lost in that photo

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    Mute paul mulligan
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    May 17th 2012, 2:13 PM

    Are those my feet?

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    Mute Murty Forde
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    May 17th 2012, 2:23 PM

    Do so true. Not really a CEO type in that snap.

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    Mute Diarmuid Murray
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    May 17th 2012, 8:44 PM

    430,000 yr??? nice bucks! who pays him?

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    Mute Martin Healy
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    May 17th 2012, 1:56 PM

    There are enough stadiums on the island of Ireland but it would take huge cooperation from the GAA and IRFU and of course the government. We certainly could do it, and do it well , remember the special Olympics .

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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    May 17th 2012, 2:42 PM

    Most GAA stadiums would require a huge revamp. Terracing wouldn’t be allowed by UEFA. It’sobviously cheaper to renovate than building a new one, but there would be costs involved.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    May 17th 2012, 1:46 PM

    Forget scotland and wales. Lets do a joint all ireland one. It is possible if we really wanted to but knowing the FAI they would make a complete pigs ear of it.

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    Mute Graham Carrick
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    May 18th 2012, 1:09 AM

    Simply not enough top class stadiums begrudge. We need the Brits

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    Mute Peter 'Nocky' Naughnane
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    May 17th 2012, 2:42 PM

    “Countries can still bid to host the Euro 2020, even though the deadline passed on Tuesday”. Aaaaaaam, not much of a deadline then?!

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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    May 17th 2012, 2:43 PM

    i.e. The bidders were wrong.

    Scotland and Wales were being encouraged to bid so that there was an alternative to Turkey, but it would seem they have hopes of someone else coming in.

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    Mute Glen Marsden
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    May 17th 2012, 4:00 PM

    The bidding process doesn’t start for another year or so. The deadline to register an interest to bid was on Tuesday.

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    Mute Caitríona Sheridan
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    May 17th 2012, 2:47 PM

    Is that an Irish flag sticky taped to the front of that podium? Oh dear!!

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    Mute Rommel Burke
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    May 17th 2012, 3:23 PM

    Yeah, Delaney’s the one taped to the back. ;)

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    Mute Floodzie
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    May 17th 2012, 2:25 PM

    Jaysus Delaney, grow a pair of b*lls and start the bidding process, will ya?

    Why do I read all his quotes in the voice of the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz?

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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    May 17th 2012, 6:48 PM

    Can’t see Scotland getting involved with this! They have enough other stuff going on! And I remember hearing how embarrassed they were when it all went pear shaped the last time! Don’t think they’d risk getting their fingers burnt twice!

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    Mute Frank2521
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    May 17th 2012, 3:42 PM

    Delaney is promoting himself – nothing else matters to him. He is in line to take over the Olympic job which is why he keeps his profile out there in the press. As for the SOCCOR – we would be invaded by the various gangs of right wing hooligans from the Italian and Northern European countries. The Neo Nazi’s would love a go at our Garda and our army as they would have a good chance of a real fight.

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    Mute Darragh Flynn
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    May 18th 2012, 4:06 AM

    What Olympic job?!

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    May 17th 2012, 9:04 PM

    I’d love to see a major FIFA or UEFA tournament come to Ireland but realistically we don’t have enough stadiums. Physically we do, but in reality we don’t. I really can’t see the GAA cancelling it’s most important calendar dates to fit in a major competition from a rival sport (and I don’t think they should have to either), no matter how friendly the terms are between the two organisations (GAA and FAI). We would be left with one, maybe two (Thomond Park), stadiums to offer even a joint bid. Croke Park, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Semple Stadium – they would all be out of the question.

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    Mute Ciara Ní Mhurchú
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    May 17th 2012, 9:14 PM

    If we got this we’d only rip tourists off. Hotels, car hire etc. our transport system is a sham. Work on these issues first.

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    Mute Joseph McGranaghan
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    May 17th 2012, 9:33 PM

    That’s not just an Irish disease take a look at the cost of flights to and hotels in London this summer

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    Mute Graham Carrick
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    May 18th 2012, 1:14 AM

    Transport is a sham? We have motorways connecting every city and 3 big international airports. Could host it at minimum cost by simply adding seats in Thomand with Croker and the aviva not requiring a cent

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    Mute SMcB
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    May 17th 2012, 9:01 PM
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