Glasgow in the hunt for Euro 2020 role

Scotland is right back in the mix to co-host Euro 2020.

As part of a special 60th UEFA celebration, the Finals are to be held in 13 different cities across the Continent. The SFA has put forward Hampden Park as a potential venue, one of 39 to be proposed.

Initially, though, they feared the ruling body’s strict criteria would make the Glasgow ground a non-starter. They estimated bringing the arena up to scratch to meet hospitality demands would cost up to £10 million for a temporary fix. However, inquiries have now revealed that shouldn’t be necessary and they have been given encouragement to press on.

“Stewart Regan and I were in Dubrovnik for UEFA’s Presidents and General Secretaries get together and got positive feedback on the issue,” said SFA President Campbell Ogilvie. “That is great news because if we have no chance of getting it we wouldn’t spend money on it. But as things stand, we are still in there fighting. We are still in the melting pot.

“I think UEFA appreciate this can’t just be about the numbers. The 13 centres project was brought in to allow countries who wouldn’t normally be able to host a major Final the chance to get involved. If you are only offering to the countries with stadiums with the highest hospitality criteria, you are not going to bring in many.

“UEFA seem to be taking that on board so will be evaluating our application on a wider basis which is good because we are in a much stronger position maybe, than some other countries.

“We have three international airports here, we have top-class facilities and, in Glasgow itself, we have a city with so much to offer supporters from other countries. Hampden staged the Champions League Final in 2002 and the UEFA Cup Final five years later and both went well.”

Among the cities that have been put forward are London, Cardiff and Dublin.

Ogilvie also reports concern the new expanded European Championships could lead to lessening of interest. From the 2016 competition, there will be 24 Finalists instead of the current 16.

“The big worry is that a lot of the big teams could be qualifying early,” said the SFA President. “When we were over in Dubrovnik, a lot of people were asking how can we revamp the qualifying rounds to keep the competition going longer.

“There are a lot of different ideas out there about ways it could be made more exciting, but no consensus other than that it must be equal opportunity. By that I mean everybody must have the same chance to get what they would consider a good draw as everyone else.

“It is difficult.”