UEFA chiefs have ripped apart Turkey’s hopes of hosting Euro 2024 after publicly questioning the country’s fitness to put on a tournament.
In what appears a devastating blow, a four-month evaluation study describes human rights under President Recep Erdogan as “a matter for concern”.
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Turkey’s hopes of hosting Euro 2024 have been dealt a hammer blow by Uefa after a four-month evaluation
Reuters
Uefa concluded that the human rights record in Turkey under president Recep Erdogan was a “matter for concern”
Uefa’s 16-man executive committee meets in Nyon next Thursday to choose between Turkey and rivals Germany.
But while Germany’s bid is described as offering “a motivational, creative and very professional vision” with “high quality” human rights, Turkey’s plans receive far harsher treatment.
The report questions the stadium and infrastructure promises made by Turkey, a country in the midst of an economic crisis which has seen the Lira devalued by 50 per cent over the past month.
Turkey have pledged a £15billion road and rail upgrade plus other huge projects but the Uefa report adds: “Recent economic developments may put planned public investments under pressure.”
Reuters
Uefa’s 16-man executive committee meets in Nyon next Thursday to choose between Turkey and rivals Germany
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Germany now look in pole position to host the tournament, which will be their first since the World Cup in 2006
Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin is believed to favour strongly the German bid, with all ten planned stadia already built and being used with transport links in place.
Germany have been hampered by the “racism” row which saw Mesut Ozil retire from international football following the furore over his meeting with Erdogan before the World Cup.
In a statement issued after the report was published, Turkish Football Federation President Yildirim Demiroren ignored the elephant in the room and only expressed delight that his bid’s “far-reaching vision” had been recognised.
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But the publication of the report will pave the way for an emphatic German victory, which would also be a vindication of Ceferin.
And that would have positive knock-on effects for the proposed England-led 2030 World Cup bid which the Uefa President is backing.
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