Prime minister Keir Starmer has told Uefa he will back the UK government providing the funding necessary to rebuild Casement Park in time to host matches at the Euro 2028 soccer tournament.
The Stormont executive and Irish government have committed to funding the project, but increased costs have left question marks hanging over the UK government’s previously pledged financial package.
There have been plans to build a new stadium at Casement Park since 2011 but, with spiralling construction costs and other obstacles, some estimates for the cost of building the 34,000-capacity ground have stretched to over £300m.
The Times reported the prime minister will push for his government to provide the money necessary to get the west Belfast stadium ready in time for Euro 2028, which is slated to be jointly hosted by Britain and Ireland.
In 2012, stadium designers were appointed to the project, and it was expected the new Casement Park would be built by 2015. But local residents lodged a legal appeal suggesting the venue would block light from local homes and cause traffic problems. In December 2014 a judge quashed the decision to grant the project planning permission.
The GAA submitted a request for planning permission for a redesigned, smaller stadium in 2017 but the collapse of the Stormont executive in March that year saw the project further delayed, with permission finally granted in 2021 and another legal challenge from the residents rejected in court in May 2022.
Uefa has the final say over tournament venues but is not expected to intervene.