By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – Countries hoping to stage the pan-European Championship finals in 2020 have received mixed news from UEFA’s evaluation panel with the vote just a week away.
UEFA will choose 13 host cities out of 19 applicants when its executive committee meets on September 19 but Russia and Israel look like missing out judging by the assessment report just released.
The report raises concerns about Israel’s and Russia’s capacity to host matches because of the political instability in both countries. Russia have put forward St. Petersburg and Israel Jerusalem.
UEFA said that the political situation in Israel is “complex” and acknowledged Russia’s political situation as “increasingly complex.”
During the recent Middle East conflict, UEFA switched a number of games due to be played in Israel to Cyprus while 2018 World Cup host Russia has been widely criticized for its incursion into Ukraine.
Twelve winning bidders will each host three group-stage matches and a single knockout match from the last-16 or quarterfinals rounds. England and Germany submitted bids for the prestige package of semi-finals and final though it has become apparent that the Germans may strategically opt for earlier games instead to concentrate on a bid to stage Euro 2024.
UEFA said it did not receive sufficient information regarding the budget and the renovation work at the 32,000-capacity Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.
“Regarding safety and security, the stadium has not provided any relevant certificates or evacuation plan,” the report added.
UEFA also evaluated the repercussions of Scotland’s bid if the country gains independence, with the referendum result due at the same time the 13 cities will be selected.
“Scotland being part of the UK, the legal situation is mostly – but not entirely – identical to that of England and Wales,” UEFA said. “The situation may have to be reassessed should Scotland become independent of the UK following the referendum.”
The evaluation report also criticises the Scottish bid itself. “The commercial sector of the bid is inadequate, as the information provided lacks clarity. The amount of advertising space offered is vague.”
Glasgow’s transport links and hotel accommodation are praised however, as is its plans for fan zones.
Dublin, which staged the Europa League final in 2011, and Cardiff, which held the recent Super Cup between Real Madrid and Sevilla, both received largely positive assessments though the stadium in Dublin “only partly meets UEFA’s requirements in terms of accessibility as it does not offer enough parking spaces at the stadium or close by” while inspectors pointed out that fans would have to use airports in Bristol or even London to get to Cardiff.
The report was the result of a thorough evaluation process conducted over a period of three months. The 19 hopeful applicants are Azerbaijan (Baku), Belarus (Minsk), Belgium (Brussels), Bulgaria (Sofia), Denmark (Copenhagen), England (London), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Skopje), Germany (Munich), Hungary (Budapest), Israel (Jerusalem), Italy (Rome), Netherlands (Amsterdam), Republic of Ireland (Dublin), Romania (Bucharest), Russia (Saint Petersburg), Scotland (Glasgow), Spain (Bilbao), Sweden (Stockholm), Wales (Cardiff).
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