Spurs may take Dublin’s Euro games

EURO 2020 chiefs are increasingly sceptical of Dublin’s suitability as a venue this summer, with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in contention as a potential alternative.

Doubts have also been raised over Bilbao and Glasgow, although senior figures within Uefa expect Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon to give a timetable for the return of fans prior to a key tournament meeting next month.

Uefa remains keen to give the 12 cities as much time as possible to safeguard their places, but Ireland’s tough sporting restrictions and slow vaccine rollout is a concern amongst senior figures with less than five weeks to spare until a final decision.

Organisers say they still hope to stage matches at the 12 venues as planned, but each of the countries staging matches must submit how they will welcome back fans in plans by a deadline of April 7. Glasgow’s Hampden Park and the Aviva Stadium are due to stage four games each. Sources close to the FAI say Uefa has said the games will be moved should there be no supporters allowed, and Dublin is likely to take a tougher stance on restrictions than European counterparts.

British prime minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said England could stage more than the seven matches currently scheduled at Wembley. But it is understood Tottenham’s venue would be more likely to be considered among options if Dublin is forced to pull out. The English FA is understood to be willing in principle to stage additional matches in England if asked to do so by Uefa. No such request has been tabled, however.

Uefa would like stadiums to have at least half of the seats filled, despite much of Europe still playing games in empty venues due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. Old Trafford, the Etihad and Anfield are also potential options if Uefa decides to shift the four games slated for Aviva Stadium. (© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2021)