Industry Odisha Bureau, April 11: UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has reportedly raised his eyebrows by pointing fingers at the present queer conditions of most of the top stadiums in Italy in view of officially co-hosting the coveted Euro 2032.
Pertinent to note that, “The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is the administrative and governing body for association football in Europe, overseeing major competitions like the UEFA Champions League and the European Championship (Euros). Founded in 1954, it acts as the European umbrella organization under FIFA”.
As per media reports, the incumbent UEFA chief has mentioned the Italian top stadiums as “some of the worst in Europe”.
Notably, Italy had hosted the World Cup in 1990 and most of the country’s top stadiums were reportedly refurbished and newly-built then much prior to hosting that major international football tournament.
In an interview with the Gazzetta Dello Sport published yesterday (April 10), UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin said, “Euro 2032 is scheduled and will take place, of that there is no doubt. I just hope that the infrastructure (in Italy) will be ready. If that’s not the case, the tournament will not be held in Italy”.
He also reportedly remarked, “The relationship between the football authorities and politics is Italian football’s biggest problem”, quipping, “the football infrastructure in Italy is among the worst in Europe”.
Media reports said that Italy has to name the five stadiums in October this year those would host the Euro 2032 matches.
While eleven cities like Rome, Florence, Bologna, Verona, Milan, Genoa, Bari, Naples, Turin, Cagliari and Palermo have reportedly been opted for, the refurbishing or redeveloping work or the construction of brand new ones must be begun at least by March 2027, stresses the UEFA chief.
Media reports revealed that the Juventus’s Allianz Stadium in Turin is the lone venue totally ready to host matches, while Inter Milan and AC Milan are optimistic of completing another new one with a capacity of 71,500 spectators by 2031.
Media reports also stated that a new stadium is on anvil in the national capital city of Rome, while another stadium named Fiorentina’s Stadio Artemio Franchi is being redeveloped.
