Burns 'pessimistic' over Casement hosting Euro 2028

GAA president Jarlath Burns believes it is improbable that nan redevelopment of Casement Park will beryllium completed successful clip to shape Euro 2028 games.

The task has been plagued by delays and Northern Ireland caput of authorities Chris Heaton-Harris said successful April that nan UK authorities is still "working to fig out" nan costs of building nan stadium successful westbound Belfast.

A period later premier curate Rishi Sunak insisted nan authorities will make a “significant contribution” to nan scheme.

The original costs a decade agone was estimated to beryllium £77.5m but Heaton-Harris suggested successful March it could now beryllium astir £308m.

“It’s not looking arsenic if we’re going to get nan Euros,” Burns told nan Belfast Telegraph.

He expects nan redevelopment of Casement Park will spell up but not to nan required specification to meet UEFA standards for staging Euro 2028 fixtures.

He added: “Having attended nan last of nan Europa League successful nan Aviva, I tin spot what UEFA brings to a stadium and to an event. West Belfast deserves that and we’re not getting it. It’s conscionable a awesome pity because nan carrot was dangled successful beforehand of america and past it was taken away.

“And really nan large loser present is going to beryllium nan crippled of shot successful Northern Ireland nine and nan economy. The Department for nan Economy was waiting to measurement successful pinch each sorts of different things that were going to travel from there. It’s conscionable a pity. But we’re still very hopeful and expectant that we’re going to get nan costs to make a provincial stadium wherever we tin play our Ulster finals.”

Five games person been earmarked for Casement Park but Burns anticipates that gathering Uefa timelines is going to beryllium difficult.

“The full task is being tally by nan Strategic Investment Board and they person been telling america that successful bid to get nan tenders successful and to find retired what it’s going to cost, it’s going to return six weeks - and past there’s going to person to beryllium different 4 weeks for appeals to that.

"We’re moving away, we’re clearing nan tract and that. But astatine nan extremity of nan day, it’s UEFA and their timelines are important. It has to beryllium up and moving for almost a twelvemonth earlier you tin really opportunity that it’s decently functional, truthful I’m now pessimistic that nan Euros will beryllium played successful Casement Park."