Scotland to host Euro 2012?

Reluctant Hero · Scotland to host Euro 2012?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7437379.stm

Scots eye Euro 2012 rescue plan

Scotland could be the beneficiaries if Uefa takes a dim view on Ukraine and Poland's preparations for Euro 2012.

Doubts persist about the suitability of stadiums and infrastructure in the former Eastern bloc nations and an inspection is planned this summer.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith told BBC Sport: "We have made it clear that we'd like to be considered if it's not going ahead in Ukraine and Poland.

"With the event likely to expand after 2012 it would be our last chance."

Scotland and the Republic of Ireland failed with a joint bid for Euro 2008, which gets underway in Switzerland and Austria at the weekend.

But Smith revealed that he had held discussions with Uefa president Michel Platini about hosting future tournaments.

Feature: Scotland in the frame for Euro 2012
"I asked if the size of the competition was increasing from 16 teams," he said.

"And, given that it probably would after 2012, we would not be able to stage a European Championship if that was the case.

"But he (Platini) said there might be an opportunity, you never know.

"There is an inspection on Ukraine and Poland's facilities in June or July and if they don't match up they may have to take the tournament elsewhere.

"I said was that we'd like to be considered if that situation arose. We haven't been told we are on standby or anything like that."

Igor Miroshnychenko from the Ukranian FA told BBC Sport: "I have heard the story about the possibility of the championships being taken off us.

"I spoke with Uefa on Wednesday and they told me that they have no plans at the moment to move elsewhere.

"But it's not a good situation here at the moment.

"We have no main stadium and there are problems with the roads. It's not a good situation politically.

MY SPORT: DEBATE
We would have Hampden, Ibrox, Celtic Park and Murrayfield all ready to go and require another four stadia. Where would they be though?

MacWalka

"People here feel there are too many problems to host this tournament. Can we host it? I really don't know."

Italy was widely expected to win the Uefa vote for Euro 2012.

However, their bid was overshadowed by a referee corruption scandal and problems with football-related crowd trouble.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond is a keen football fan and has voiced his interest in the nation hosting a major event.

"I've had discussions with Alex Salmond and the Scottish government and they would like us to apply for a tournament," added Smith.

"We know about the criteria that has to be met and there is a financial cost to that, so we'd have to see if that money could be raised by government."

Hampden Park, Ibrox, Celtic Park and Murrayfield, the home of Scottish rugby, all meet international standards.

But another four stadiums would have to be constructed or upgraded in order for Scotland to succeed with any bid.

Blackleaf

England should host Euro2012. We have Europe's best, and safest, stadia.

Probably only two stadia in Scotland - Ibrox and Parkhead - are eligible to host the Euros.

Reluctant Hero

You certainly don't have the best fanzones Laughing

Rinty

Enmgland had the event in 1996 so wont be in the running for a very long time. If the games were awarded to countries who have all the stadia in place years before the event then it would be restricted to just a few countries, part of the reason for hosting events like this is to develop the infrastucture.

Scotland has four stadia that meet the UEFA criterion, CP, Ibrox, Hampden and Murrayfield. We have other that meet the standrd apart from the capacity, so it wuld require upping the capacity of a few parks by a few thousand.

But it is not a question reallya s the games are in Ukraine and Poland and if they are behind, UEFA will assist them to get things done.

Scott2006

Scotland if it used an advanced timeshare model to have some games played at 2pm or 3pm and other games at 7.45pm or 8.45pm thenallowing a flow ina clockwise direction of the fans to safe zones...

all games could be played in the smaller number of stadia.

Blackleaf

Cymro

Blackleaf, FIFA haven't promised the WC to England if they decide South Africa aren't ready. England along with the US and Australia and a few others have been named. Chances are it would be Australia in the unlikely event of SA having it taken away from them given they have the stadia pretty much there, they did a good job of hosting the Olympics, they are obsessed with sports, they are in the Southern Hamisphere and more importantly - they are long overdue one.

Regarding Euro 2012, it's an outside bet to get it in Scotland (Wales have also been mentioned as going in with Scotland in order to ger the Millenium Stadium and possibly Cardiffs new stadium used. This is more likely than England getting it. If it doesn't go to 'new' countries like Scotland and Wales for obvious reasons chances are Spain would top the list if it goes by existing facilities alone.