SFA offers contingency plan to host Euro 2012

Published on Thursday 5 June 2008 23:21

THE Scottish Football Association have asked to be considered as alternative hosts of the 2012 European Championship should Poland and Ukraine lose the honour.

Uefa president Michel Platini warned the co-hosts to intensify efforts to upgrade stadia, transport links and accommodation following his last visit to the two countries in February.

Platini said his next assessment, which will take place early next month, would be "decisive".

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith has told the former France manager Scotland would be keen to hold the finals should Uefa be forced to move them.

But he admits there is no guarantee Scotland would be able to stage it after reports claimed they were in the frame.

"We have asked to be considered but we are not on any standby list and we weren't told we would be getting the tournament or we would be considered for the tournament even, if Poland and Ukraine don't get it," said Smith. "All we asked for was that we would like to be considered should they not be given the tournament or the tournament be taken away from them.

"That's where we left it with Michel Platini but to find out we are favourites if Poland and Ukraine don't (measure up] is quite a shock, because we would still have to look at the whole scenario and see whether we could do it."

Uefa refused to say whether a stand-by list exists.

A spokesman said: "There has never been a question of moving the tournament. The president will be there in July and then he will make a statement."

Scotland failed in a joint bid with the Republic of Ireland to stage this year's finals and has only four stadia which meet Uefa's criteria – Celtic Park, Ibrox, Hampden and Murrayfield.

It emerged today though that Scotland was being lined up to host the 2008 tournament as Swiss officials struggled to force planning issues through several years ago.

Christophe Bosshardt, head of Project Organisation Euro2008, said: "Uefa tried to push a little bit in the right direction and they told us Scotland would be happy and ready to take games if we didn't fulfil our criteria.

"They claimed the tournament would have moved there."