Boris Johnson has said that Ukraine should host Euro 2028, despite previously supporting a joint bid submitted by the UK and Ireland.
Having landed in Brussels on Thursday morning, the prime minister was asked about Russia’s surprising bid to host Euro 2028.
He told Sky News that the idea of Russia hosting a sporting evening is “beyond satire” and the “best possible thing would be for the entire Russian army to retire forthwith from Ukraine and hand the tournament to them”.
The UK & Ireland bid for the UEFA Euro 2028 has this government’s full backing.
Our world-class stadiums and passionate fans stand ready to host one of the world’s greatest sporting events.
Let’s bring football home. https://t.co/QWTL3muayA
The Football Associations of the UK and Ireland submitted a joint “expression of interest” letter in hosting the tournament to UEFA yesterday.
The bid has the government’s “full backing”, Mr Johnson tweeted in response, adding: “Our world-class stadiums and passionate fans stand ready to host one of the world’s greatest sporting events.
“Let’s bring football home.”
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His comments on Wednesday appeared to contradict his tweet. Number 10 has been contacted for comment.
Russia submitted a late bid on Wednesday to host the tournament in either 2028 or 2032, despite being banned from international football.
The deadline for expressing interest in hosting the tournament was at 5pm on Wednesday and it was expected that the bid submitted by the UK and Ireland would be the only one.
However, Russia and Turkey submitted competing bids, meaning the countries will go through a bidding process, with the host expected to be announced next year.
The Football Union of Russia posted on its website on Wednesday that it “supports the decision to declare interest in hosting the European Championship 2028 or 2032 in Russia”.
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Russian clubs and its national team have been banned by both FIFA and UEFA and St Petersburg was stripped of the right to host the men’s Champions League final after the war broke out.
Russia has appealed against the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
England’s FA did not comment on Mr Johnson’s remarks.
The FA’s Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been contacted for comment.
