What’s really in this joint Euros bid for Ireland?

AS DECLARATIONS of support go, the statement from Minister Catherine Martin following submission of a joint bid for Euro 2028 was not full-throated.

It ran to three sentences, the second of which read: ‘My officials will continue their examination of the costs and benefits of hosting the tournament through the next phase of the process and prior to any decision in relation to supporting a final bid in April 2023.’

Martin’s statement also mentioned the ‘recovering tourism sector’, and all those hotels that spent the summer ripping off visitors can be counted on to fleece foreigners if they get the chance, too.

As to what good being part of the mudguard for an English bid will bring to Irish soccer, that is less certain.

Were there evidence that it will inspire more into playing and coaching, and that the dividend will involve better facilities, then the bid would deserve support.

But this is only a joint bid because English ambitions to host the Euros were dented by the awful scenes outside Wembley ahead of the final of this competition last year.

Irish involvement makes no sense otherwise.