On a slightly different topic, the absurdity of the Scottish FA rejecting both Ibrox and Parkhead and going instead with Scotland’s worst over-50K stadium in Hampden for Euro 2028 really is quite perfect to sum up the state of the national game and the national hierarchy.
The Chief Executive, Ian Maxwell, babbled some unconvincing drivel:
“Hampden Park is the national stadium, it’s world famous for hosting matches. We’re in the house of UEFA today and the video club is showing Zinedine Zidane scoring in the Champions League final which is an iconic moment that everyone remembers and associates with Hampden. As the SFA, we want to see games played at the national stadium. That’s the only fitting place to hold such a prestigious event.”
Despite the fact Hampden is a horrible football stadium, Maxwell admits that the SFA have decided this on a completely selfish basis.
What is probably more ridiculous is that Scotland, with 4 50K+ sports stadiums, including Edinburgh’s Murrayfield (67,000) only has one stadium offered for this tournament. This is a country born for football, and which has four giant stadiums, and it’s the worst one being used to ‘showcase’ the country.
Why is only one being used? It should have been two – Ibrox and Parkhead. As the two football mammoths in this country, it would have been completely appropriate for Scotland’s contribution to be those two stadiums. Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland are really not football nations the way Scotland is, and one each for them is fine.
Two for Scotland seems fair, with England naturally getting 4 million stadiums, including one which doesn’t even exist yet.
But no, SFA gave Hampden, their ‘pride and joy’ – the most rotten of stadiums which sums up how insular the game here is run.
Should have been both Ibrox and Parkhead – simple as that.
Maxwell even admits Hampden isn’t appropriate as it is:
“There will be changes made to the stadium in terms of preparation for Euro 2028. We need to be realistic about what those are. There will be tweaks and upgrades rather than anything substantial because it’s important we use the income and interest that this game will generate to help the game across the country for future generations.”
Appalling. Admits it’s a total money-making exercise for them.
Everything about the SFA’s conduct here is diabolical.
Not even surprised at this, SFA is run by complete imbeciles.
Have to agree with NachoNovo and with the SFA’s decision.
Not only is Hampden unsuitable as a stadium, it is also one of the more difficult for fans to get to.
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