Work starts at Belfast’s Euro 2028 ghost ground with clock ticking | Euro 2028
Patrick Nelson speaks with such conviction about Northern Ireland staging video games within the 2028 Euros that one would surprise what all of the fuss is about. “We take the view that if you put a hurdle in entrance of us, we clear it and ask what’s subsequent,” says the chief government of the Irish FA. “We now have been relentless when it comes to bringing this match right here. Belfast deserves it, Northern Eire deserves it. Will probably be fabulous as and when it occurs.” Nelson seemingly discovered himself in an invidious place because the UK and Republic of Eire bid for these finals. At the moment, as now, Northern Eire didn’t have a stadium which met Uefa’s 30,000-capacity standards. Key to Belfast’s position is the entire rebuild of Casement Park, a derelict Gaelic video games floor in west Belfast. Final Monday morning, the gates of Casement swung open as floor clearance work obtained below manner. Inside 24 hours, the Irish authorities had dedicated what Nelson deems a “very important and symbolic” €50m (£42.8m) to the undertaking. This scheme, dogged by controversy and damaging publicity, instantly has a tailwind. “The very fact is Northern…