If it’s just boo-boo-boo, then it really worked. However, if the mayor’s words about suspending the construction and organization of EURO U21 come true, it will be a total fiasco.
Building of the century. This is how some locals describe – ironically – the construction of a football stadium in Prešov. It was moved for years, problems arose even after the start of implementation.
When the construction of the arena reached a stage where it seemed that nothing could stop it, it turned out that it could.
It’s not only those who have already bought tickets for specific matches of next year’s U21 European Championship that can open their mouths and shake their heads in disbelief. Their venue will also be the metropolis of Šariša.
“Tickets for the event are also being sold for matches at the football stadium, which is not yet operational, which is unusual but very promising.” the director of the organizing committee of the championship, Mária Berdisová, spoke to ŠPORT.sk after the launch of the pre-sale.
A little earlier she concluded that “UEFA is satisfied with the state of preparations in all stadiums, as well as with the preparations for the whole tournament”.
The construction of the Football Tatran Arena (FTA) in Prešov may be suspended, and next year’s organization of the European Championship in under-21 football (EURO U21) is also at risk. Prešov Mayor František Oľha announced this at Thursday’s press conference.
An even bigger “pruser” than the Deaflympiad
Sports fans in Slovakia certainly remember the fiasco with the Deaflympics that did not take place in 2011. The definitive decision to cancel the event was made only a few days before its official start, and Slovakia caused shame around the world.
Now Prešov is begging for an even bigger “prüser”. EURO under 21 is the biggest football event that can be held in Slovakia. The fact that it is the most popular and mass sport at all, probably does not need to be reminded.
The ambition of the organizer of the championship is to attack the threshold of 300,000 supporters in the total attendance directly in the audience, with more than 100 million viewers watching it on television screens. Pretty decent ad, right?
The Slovak Football Association (SFZ) is satisfied with the progress of preparations for next year’s big football holiday – EURO 2025 under-21. It will take place during the summer in Slovakia, and ticket prices for this championship are already known.
Sport is hostage to politics
The councilors of Prešov should realize that their personal disputes or attitudes resulting from their involvement in municipal politics and possible further criminal law actions deserve a completely different field.
In order to settle them, let them calmly choose the usual boyish way – to sit down for a beer and discuss everything face to face. And this without any lightening of possible doubts during the construction of the stadium – if they really are, they must be named and the damage repaired.
The mayor of Prešov František Oľha (left) announces a possible suspension of the construction of the stadium. Source: TASR
Because the communication of the interested parties is clearly failing and sport – next time it may be a different field – is just a hostage to politics in the whole thing.
But, gentlemen, beware, there is much more to the game than you might think. Your city is not supposed to host a B-level tournament, but one that belongs to the largest in the entire hierarchy of European football. In the case of “twitching” at this stage, Prešov will earn a label that will stick with him for a long time.
If it’s just boo-boo-boo, then it really worked. However, if the words of Mayor František Oľha about suspending the construction and organization of EURO U21 come true, it will be a total fiasco.
