By Mark Baber
March 7 – The Danish Football Association (DBU) announced officially on Friday that it, along with the football associations from Sweden, Norway and Finland is exploring the possibility of bidding for European Championship hosting in 2024 or 2028.
According to the DBU the idea of a joint bid was discussed when the Nordic football chairmen met in Zurich last week and DBU president, Jesper Møller on Friday received his Board’s commitment to proceed with the work.
Møller commented on the new development saying: “The Nordic football Association have common values in many areas – including how we can organise a European Championship finals with a focus on volunteerism, sustainability and wellbeing in football. And we have a common love of football and a desire to host the European Championship, so we will examine the possibility of bidding for the hosting in 2024 or 2028.”
Møller added: “EM is one of the biggest events in the world of football and is great for all of us who love football. To host one of the largest sporting events have huge implications for all parts of the Danish football and throughout Denmark. Both the fans and supporters but also for clubs, volunteers and others who need help to arrange and to enable a such a big event. This will provide a huge boost for Danish football for many years before and after the European Championship finals. “
Although details of the bidding process have not yet been announced, other bids which have previously been mooted for the 2024 Euros include Germany, Turkey, Netherlands and even a joint Estonia-Russia effort.
The Germans are likely to provide strong competition, having dropped their bid to host the 2020 final in exchange for a deal for England’s support for a 2024 bid. The Germans have also said they will be supporting an English bid for 2028. Turkey look highly unlikely to be in a position to bid for 2024, given the violence and political instability in the country, human rights concerns and increasing government interference the sport.
Unlike potential rival bids, a Nordic bid is likely to require infrastructural work, particularly to increase the capacity of stadia and to improve the transport infrastructure in Norway.
Whilst a joint Nordic bid has long been rumoured, Karl-Erik Nilsson, president of the Swedish Football Association stressed talks were at an early stage saying: “There are no obligations attached to the discussions, but they are well in line with our objectives in the long term.”
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