FAI Interim CEO David Courell confirmed yesterday that the capacity is there for the Aviva Stadium — known as Dublin Arena by UEFA — to host even more matches.
Mayo native Courell remains the interim with the FAI’s search for a permanent CEO ongoing.
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He believes Dublin could facilitate up to three more Euros games. While Casement Park was earmarked for five matches at the tournament.
He says the Dublin venue “can’t cope” with taking on all of those in addition to the six already scheduled.
He said he was “disappointed” by the decision of the British government not to fund the development of Belfast’s Casement Park.
Courell told reporters: “We like the other nine partners involved in this project — five associations and five governments — have always wanted Northern Ireland to feature as a host venue in 2028.
It is a UK and Ireland bid. Regretfully, that has not come to pass. We remain committed to working with Northern Ireland and all of our partners to engage with UEFA to see how they can remain part of the tournament delivery.
What shape or form that will take, who knows?”
“We’ll have to go into those conversations now over the coming weeks and months. There’s an overriding sense of disappointment they don’t feature as a host venue.”
Courell pointed to May’s hosting of the UEFA Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen as evidence the capital city is equipped to hold football’s biggest occasions.
Speaking to media at the FAI 2024 AGM yesterday, he said Dublin was “open for business.”
He continued: “Of course, there is now a conversation that will now ensue about what happens to the games that were scheduled to take place in Northern Ireland.
I believe, my proof is the Europa League final that we hosted here in May, that we’ve proven our capability to deliver major events in this country. We will absolutely be open for business.
The Dublin Arena will be there if UEFA as tournament owners decide to reallocate games. We would absolutely welcome the opportunity to host more.”
Asked about Northern Ireland’s future involvement in Euro 2028, Courell said the removal of Casement Park from the table does not spell the end of their association with the tournament.
He said: “That’s a conversation all partners will have to go into with UEFA. We would absolutely expect them to remain a co-host. They can still play a part in the delivery of this tournament in a different shape or form.”
As a co-host, Ireland may qualify automatically for the tournament. That would be a boost considering the Boys in Green haven’t made a tournament since Euro 2016 — and recent form suggests qualification isn’t on the horizon.
Courell said: “First and foremost, we fully expect to qualify on merit but by virtue of hosting the tournament.
“We also benefit from an increased likelihood of automatic qualification if we need to fall back on that. The mechanism for that has yet to be defined by UEFA.”
Elsewhere, President Paul Cooke used his address to stress the FAI deserved a “fair share” of the government’s betting levy.
The association proposes that Ireland’s current rate of two percent is increased to three, which they say would generate a further €30m annually.
And the FAI — who saw their debts reduced to €43.2m in 2023, down from €50.9m — did not provide details of the financial impact of former CEO Jonathan Hill’s departure in April.
They entered into a “confidential, legal agreement” with Hill, who left the FAI under a cloud after controversy over pay received in lieu of holidays.
