Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – UEFA selects the host of the 2024 European Championship on Thursday in a vote pitting a safe German bid against a riskier Turkish proposal that offers a chance to explore new terrain.
Germany, considered the favourite, has a long history of hosting major sporting events and has everything in place for a successful tournament, UEFA said in an evaluation.
Turkey, desperate to host its first ever major sporting event, boasts gleaming new stadiums and a football-mad fanbase.
But its economy is troubled, its transport network is lacking and, perhaps most importantly, the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has presided over an unprecedented crackdown that has prompted global concern over respect for human rights.
Germany has at times been bitterly critical of Turkey under Erdogan.
And, by extraordinary coincidence, the Turkish leader is visiting Germany on Thursday for a trip that includes talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
– ‘Football can unify’ –
Germany hosted the World Cup in 2006, but has never staged the Euro as a unified country: West Germany hosted in 1988.
The bid sees matches spread over 10 stadiums with capacity for a total of 2.78 million spectators — 290,000 more than Turkey — giving Germany a financial edge from potential ticket revenue.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has made clear it is crucial “to make as much money as possible,” from Euro 2024.
But Germany is not just pitching itself as a steady hand that can host without a hitch — it has also voiced confidence that a tournament on its soil could build societal unity.
Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, born in Germany to Turkish parents, accused the German FA (DFB) of racism when he retired from international football in July after the country’s shock early exit from the World Cup.
Ozil was the target of xenophobic comments after being photographed with Erdogan in May and the DFB was blamed for bungling its response to the fracas.
Germany’s vision for Euro 2024, according to UEFA, “is rooted in the belief that football can unify society.”
“We are more than convinced of our concept, but it is no longer in our hands,” former German captain and bid leader Philipp Lahm said ahead of the vote.
“Keep your fingers crossed.”
– Erdogan’s shadow –
The polarising Turkish president has massively developed football infrastructure during his 15 years in power but has always come away empty-handed from bids for Turkey to host major tournaments.
from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2y2rgFl
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