GROUND DOWN
FAI only able to host three games in 2020
THERE will be no Aviva Stadium sendoff for the Republic of Ireland should they survive the play-offs and qualify for the Euro 2020 finals.
With UEFA taking charge of the ‘Dublin Stadium’ on May 15, the cash-strapped FAI are faced with earning match-day income from just three games at the Aviva in 2020.
As finalists, Ireland would be guaranteed two games at ‘home’ but only as tenants as UEFA are landlords at all 12 venues.
Since the Aviva Stadium opened for business in 2010, Ireland have played 55 senior internationals there, an average of 5.5 games a year.
It has been a reliable stream of income for the FAI but this year, when the ‘full house’ signs are needed most, it will be September — 10 months since the Euro Championship qualifier against Denmark — before the FAI cash in again.
UEFA confirmed to Sportsmail yesterday, ‘Football matches can be played until the day before the official handover (i.e. start of availability period) of the stadium to UEFA, which is Friday
15 May for Dublin.’ With the international window for friendlies opening on June 1, the Association would have to fork out for somewhere to play should Mick McCarthy and his players come through two away play-offs on March 26 and 31. While there is a minimum €9.25m guaranteed for all Euro 2020 finalists, sourcing a venue would be a welcome headache for the FAI, although not one easily solved. Even if Croke Park were available in early June, a €1m rental price tag would scare off the FAI. It’s understood Thomond Park (25,600 capacity) is already under consideration for a potential friendly on June 8, whether Ireland qualify or not. Finding decent opposition in June won’t be straightforward as all of Europe’s top teams have already qualified and know their pre-final plans. Entering a year with debts close to €70m, the FAI are desperate for the cash injection which the senior international team provides. But being restricted to income from three games in the Aviva Stadium will hit financial projections hard. As a comparison, there were eight internationals played there in 2011, seven in 2013 and 2017, and six last year under McCarthy. And there are no guarantees of an autumn windfall either from the under-whelming Nations League. As Ireland were relegated to League C for 2020-21 following their 2018 Nations League campaign under Martin O’Neill, their potential opponents will be drawn from the third tier of European football.