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    Euro 2028 organisers forced to draw up contingency plans over fears abandoned stadium won’t be saved in time

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    EURO 2028 organisers have been forced to draw up contingency plans over fears an abandoned stadium will not be ready in time for the tournament.Belfast’s Casement Park is a former Gaelic football arena that has been empty since 2013.
    Euro 2028 chiefs have drawn up contingency plans amid fears Casement Park will not be readyCredit: Sportsfile
    Work has yet to begin on the redevelopment of stadium
    Costs have already leaped by £40m to £110mCredit: Sportsfile
    First opened in 1953, it was granted planning permission for a major development in 2021.
    And the new Casement Park was selected as one of the host stadiums for the UK and Ireland’s joint Euro 2028 bonanza.
    However, the Times claims Belfast and Northern Ireland could now miss out on having an arena at the tournament.
    Redevelopment plans for Casement Park have soared from £73million to over £110m.
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    Work has not even begun on the proposed 34,500-seater stadium.
    And Euro 2028 organisers are now exploring other options amid fears Casement Park will not be ready in time.
    The three matches it is due to hold would be split among the nine other venues across the rest of the UK and Ireland.
    But efforts would be made to keep Northern Ireland involved by hosting pre-tournament friendlies.
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    And the draw for the tournament could even be held in Belfast too.
    The redevelopment of Casement Park has met opposition from some local fans and politicians, as it would be primarily used as a Gaelic football stadium after the Euros.
    Former Labour sports minister Baroness Kate Hoey said: “The big worry is that there will be no legacy for football.”
    Gary McAllister, the chairman of the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs, noted: “There are a significant number of Northern Ireland fans who are not happy for games to be staged at Casement Park in Euro 2028.
    “Nothing that has been said or done since the tournament was awarded has reduced those concerns.
    “We are seeing a rival sport [GAA] potentially benefiting from a huge investment in a stadium which will host at most [three] football games.
    “The primary benefactor of a football tournament should be football.”
    But Patrick Nelson, the chief executive of the Irish FA, added: “There is a disparity of views but this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to show the world what a wonderful country Northern Ireland is.
    “We don’t have plans to play at Casement Park beyond the Euros but the legacy can take many forms — including more kids playing football, staying healthy, less obesity and better grassroots pitches.”
    Casement Park is one of ten stadiums selected for the UK and Ireland’s joint EurosCredit: Sportsfile
    It is a former Gaelic football stadium located in BelfastCredit: Getty
    Casement Park first opened its doors in 1953Credit: Getty
    It has been empty since 2013 but got permission for redevelopment in 2021Credit: Getty
    Some fans and politicians have spoken out against Casement Park as a host stadiumCredit: Getty
    Once the Euros are over, Casement Park will mainly be used for Gaelic footballCredit: Sportsfile
    The three matches it is set to host would be split among the remaining nine stadiumsCredit: Getty
    Northern Ireland could instead hold pre-tournament friendlies and even host the drawCredit: Pacemaker More

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      Brave Lionesses have inspired a new generation… when I captained England we had to pay to play and washed our own kits

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      IT is hard to believe how much the Lionesses have lifted the game of football in this country.When I captained England to victory in an unofficial world cup in Italy in 1985 the Women’s Football Association couldn’t even afford to pay for a replica of the trophy for each of us.
      The Lionesses have lifted the game of football in EnglandCredit: Alamy
      Maya Jama watches the team at Victoria ParkCredit: Getty
      Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hits the bar for the match
      A decade earlier females were still banned from playing the beautiful game on affiliated grounds.
      Today, thanks to our team of heroes, the whole of the nation has got behind these inspirational young women.
      It is their brave performances on the field and dignified spirit off it that has raised the sport so far.
      Not only did manager Sarina Wiegman’s side become European champions last summer, they went onto become the first England women’s team to reach a World Cup final.
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      At the final whistle the Lionesses slumped to the ground, heads in hands and teary eyed.
      Their sense of devastation is understandable, because they have given so much to reach the pinnacle of the game.
      But they should leave Australia with their heads held high.
      The women got kicked and got back up again, there was no rolling about.
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      Our defender Alex Greenwood took a nasty cut over her eye and played on with her head bandaged.
      It was all genuine effort.
      Our goalkeeper Mary Earps was distraught at the end, but she was a real hero making save after save.
      Stopping that penalty gave us hope right up until the end.
      And the superb goals scored earlier in the tournament will live long in the memory of fans.
      It will inspire a generation of young talent.
      At school I was only able to get a kickabout at lunch time with the boys, because during PE lessons it was hockey or netball for the girls.
      When I started playing the beautiful game as an adult, the Football Association still banned females from competing on affiliated football grounds.
      We could only kick-off in parks or on work’s team pitches.
      It cost me money to represent my country when I was first selected to play for England in 1974.
      We had to wash our kits and pay for our travel to the airport.
      The first official tournament was the UEFA championship from 1982 to 1984, which saw us get to the final against Sweden.
      I felt the taste of defeat then, losing over two legs on penalties.
      But I felt proud picking up my runners-up medals and so should the Lionesses.
      We went one better when we took part in the Mundialito – which translates as ‘little world cup.’
      In 1985 I captained the side that played four times in seven days, going on to beat the hosts Italy in the final 3-1 in a tournament not recognised by FIFA.
      Just to represent your country is such an honour, but to lead England to victory is incredible.
      Rather than the 80,000 capacity stadium in Australia that Sarina’s team played in, it was a small ground without stands on most sides.
      We came home and I disappeared back to my job in the office at Northern Dairies in Hull without any fanfare at all.
      That is what is so wonderful about this World Cup.
      They have rightly been congratulated by the Prime Minister and King Charles and should return to a heroes welcome.
      Spain played really well, pressuring the Lionesses and not giving them any time on the ball.
      They didn’t allow us to get into our usual rhythm and England were unable to reach tip top form.
      There is no doubting the dedication and effort of the Lionesses, though.
      England have not complained about going from the Euros last summer to the World Cup a year later, or about the injuries to key players or jet lag.
      We have got used to winning, with this defeat to Spain being only Sarina’s second ever defeat as manager of England.
      It is going to be tough to get over the hurt of losing a World Cup final, but Sarina and her staff will be able to pick them up.
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      There are lots of young players in this team and they will have another opportunity to lift the World Cup.
      The Lionesses have proved that for the women’s game there are no limits to what they can achieve.
      Proud Lioness fans sport their hats outside the Oz stadiumCredit: EPA
      They think it’s all agony as the final whistle is blown and fans are in tearsCredit: Reuters
      Carol Thomas, centre, is a former England Women’s CaptainCredit: Rex More

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      in Soccer

      Denise O’Sullivan rushed to hospital as Ireland’s training game against Colombia abandoned after just 20 minutes

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      IRELAND’S training game against Colombia today was abandoned after 20 minutes – as Denise O’Sullivan was taken to hospital. The Girls in Green faced the South Americans in a final World Cup tune-up game at their Meakin Park training base in Brisbane. 
      Denise O’Sullivan warming up prior to the match kicking offCredit: Sportsfile
      Captain Katie McCabe looking on at Meakin ParkCredit: Sportsfile
      Vera Pauw is now set to hold a press conference tomorrow which had not previously been plannedCredit: Sportsfile
      Midfielder Sinead Farrelly during the match itselfCredit: Sportsfile
      But the game was abandoned early after Irish ace O’Sullivan was carried off on a stretcher with an injured shin. 
      It is not yet known if it is a serious injury, but the North Carolina player was taken straight to hospital for a scan.
      After she was taken off, the Ireland team jointly decided against continuing the game after consulting with match officials.
      The game was played behind closed doors.

      Media had been told on Wednesday they could attend only for that allowance to be withdrawn at the last minute at the request of Colombia. 
      Ireland then remained on the pitch and put on a training session instead with a view towards next week’s World Cup opener with Australia.
      There were some “over physical” challenges before O’Sullivan’s injury, with Colombia picking up two yellow cards – one for the challenge on O’Sullivan –  in the opening 19 minutes.
      The FAI swiftly released a statement on the sudden conclusion.
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      It read: “The behind-closed-doors game between the Ireland Women’s National Team and Colombia on Friday evening was ended after 20 minutes of play.
      “The game, which was held in Meakin Park, Brisbane, became overly physical and it was decided, following consultation with the match officials, to end the game.
      “The Ireland team then underwent a full training session to continue preparations for their opening game in FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, against Australia in Sydney on July 20.”
      INJURY SCARE
      Vera Pauw has not been without her fair share of injury scares as the start of the World Cup closes in.
      Last week, the Tallaght Tigers played their final home game before the tournament against France.
      The result – a 3-0 defeat – came secondary to the sight of captain Katie McCabe being forced off with an apparent ankle injury in the first-half.
      Fortunately, the Arsenal star quickly made a full recovery.
      She has even been a full participant in training every day since they touched down in Oz on Sunday.
      Wednesday saw Pauw deliver a very encouraging update on the left-back’s status.
      She said: “There are no worries at all. She did the last training session.
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      “Yesterday (Tuesday) we had a pool session which is also part of our jet lag protocol. It is all planned. 
      “The day before we played on 11 aside on a very small pitch and she went in full power, full blocks, full sprints so there is no issue with her.” More