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Old Trafford and Anfield are not venues for Euro 2028, a tournament set to take place in the UK and Ireland. Here’s why.
On Tuesday it was confirmed the UK and Ireland will host Euro 2028 while Turkey and Italy have been awarded the following tournament.
UEFA’s executive committee gave the green light to the five-nation bid, which ran unopposed after Turkey withdrew last week to focus on its joint Euro 2032 bid with Italy.
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Ten stadiums were included in the UK and Ireland’s bid submission in April, with six of the venues in England and one each from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
In England, Wembley, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, St James' Park, Villa Park and Everton's new home at Bramley-Moore Dock, currently under construction, have been selected as host venues.
Meanwhile, the other stadia included in the submission are a redeveloped Casement Park in Belfast, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Hampden Park in Glasgow and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Upon the submission, many were quick to note that two of England’s most iconic stadiums, Old Trafford and Anfield, were not included as part of the bid.
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According to a Sun report Old Trafford was dropped from the UK and Ireland’s proposal alongside the Stadium of Light, the London Stadium and Dublin’s Croke Park.
This is because United executives are said to have ‘pulled the plug on their bid to be a host stadium’ after meeting with the FA.
Meanwhile, Liverpool were unable to see Anfield as a host stadium for the Euro 2028 bid after the venue was deemed ineligible due to a UEFA regulation.
UEFA’s regulations allegedly outline pitch specifications for major international tournaments, with pitches requiring dimensions of 105m by 68m.
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Anfield failed to meet the aforementioned regulation as the pitch length is short by 4m, despite meeting the required 68m width stated by UEFA.
The Sun claimed Liverpool are unable to extend the size of the pitch ‘because of the proximity of the stands’ behind each net.
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Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Football, Manchester United, Liverpool, Anfield, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales