McNulty praises leadership of IFA in working with Ulster GAA to see Casement Park developed for EURO 2028

Supporters of the Northern Ireland Football have been urged to buy into the positive potential of Casement Park as a venue for Euro 2028 instead of focusing on potential negatives.

The SDLP spokesperson on sport, Justin McNulty, said that while he could understand the “emotional pull for some” of Windsor Park, the realities of hosting global sport were more important.

“That is why the Chief Executive of the Irish Football Association, Patrick Nelson, and his support team deserve praise for their strong leadership and the way they have taken a balanced and objective stance on Casement Park.

“The IFA, to its credit, has from the outset recognised the huge benefits of being able to generate global positivity for Ireland, north and south, through the vehicle of sport.

“The success of the joint bid for EURO 2028 was based on having the best possible stadia across the UK and Ireland capable of taking on that huge responsibility.

“The Irish Football Association has played a pivotal part already in ensuring that the platform offered by Euro 2028 has to be built upon in the best possible way.

“The reality of a new Casement Park is that it will meet all the necessary criteria demanded by the organisers of a truly global experience.

“Patrick Nelson and the Board of the IFA recognise that the harsh financial and logistic constraints make updating Windsor Park untenable.

“Their collective courage in working collaboratively with Ulster GAA and not being swayed by understandable emotion at the expense of sporting benefit for the greater good of society is one that deserves support and praise rather than criticism,” Mr. McNulty said.