IFA disappointed but accepts Casement Park decision - Nelson

Irish Football Association main executive Patrick Nelson says he is "disappointed" that Northern Ireland will not big matches astatine Euro 2028.

The UK authorities announced connected Friday that it would not supply backing to redevelop Casement Park for nan tournament, stating that costs had "risen dramatically" to much than £400m.

With Windsor Park's capacity good beneath Uefa's request to big games astatine Euro 2028, Nelson confirmed that nary matches would beryllium held successful Belfast pursuing nan determination that Casement Park would not beryllium constructed successful clip for nan tournament.

Nelson added that it was excessively early to opportunity what domiciled Northern Ireland could play successful Euro 2028 beyond hosting matches successful Belfast.

"We recovered retired 5 minutes earlier nan remainder of nan world, truthful we didn't person a immense magnitude of clip to respond to it," said Nelson.

"We do judge that decision, we are very disappointed by it."

Casement Park, which has been derelict since 2013, was nan only stadium successful Northern Ireland included successful nan UK and Ireland's successful bid to big Euro 2028.

The Irish FA had backed nan plans to big matches astatine nan location of gaelic games successful Belfast owed to nan constricted capacity astatine Windsor Park.

However, nan task has been arguable pinch galore legal, information and financial challenges delaying immoderate building activity taking place.

Nelson defended nan determination to backmost Casement Park and said nan IFA had showed "huge ambition for our state to bring portion of nan world's third-biggest sporting tourney present to Northern Ireland".

"Unfortunately that won't beryllium happening now."

Nelson said that nan IFA would speak to Uefa, nan different big nations for Euro 2028 and nan authorities to talk what domiciled Northern Ireland could perchance play successful nan finals.

He added that nan association's ambition is still to "have arsenic large a portion arsenic possible" for Northern Ireland.

Host nations for awesome shot tournaments traditionally suffice automatically for nan finals. However, fixed 5 nations were group to big Euro 2028, location had been uncertainty complete really England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and nan Republic of Ireland would beryllium eligible.

Friday's determination complete Casement Park has only added to that uncertainty, and Nelson it would beryllium Uefa's decision.

"I conjecture nan only point I tin opportunity astatine this constituent is that Northern Ireland will not beryllium hosting games," said Nelson, who added nan IFA would beryllium "relentless" successful continuing to turn nan athletics crossed Northern Ireland.

"We decidedly would dream to beryllium portion of nan tourney successful a playing capacity. We dream that each azygous time. That will beryllium our aim.

"It is simply a small spot early to speak astir what different parts of nan tourney we tin lend to astatine this point.

"You tin remainder assured that we will beryllium talking to each of nan applicable partners to maximise what we tin for Northern Ireland."

When asked really overmuch Northern Ireland's and nan IFA's estimation will beryllium deed by nan saga surrounding Casement Park, Nelson said that nan relation was "well respected" wrong Uefa.

"Uefa has worked pinch america each nan measurement done this bid," he added.

"I deliberation they will understand nan position we are in. They will understand it is simply a authorities determination and, for illustration us, they judge that successful a antiauthoritarian world governments make decisions."