Minister confident obstacles to NI involvement in Euro 2028 bid can be overcome

Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister has said he is confident that obstacles to taking part in a joint UK and Ireland bid to host the 2028 Euros can be overcome.

However, Gordon Lyons said a new Stormont Executive will have to formally agree to the region’s participation.

A spokesperson for his department said officials remain involved in the process.

“While there are clearly obstacles in place at the moment, the minister is confident that these can be overcome,” they added.

Mr Lyons’s own party collapsed the Executive last month by withdrawing first minister Paul Givan from the administration in protest against Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol – trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK.

The move automatically removed Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill from her post as deputy first minister.

Other ministers remain in position in shadow format ahead of May’s Assembly election, but the wider Executive cannot meet or take significant decisions that cut across the responsibility of multiple departments, such as agreeing a new three-year budget.

There remains significant uncertainty whether a new Executive will be formed on the other side of the election.

In a letter to remaining Executive ministers earlier, seen by the PA news agency, Mr Lyons acknowledges the political situation in Northern Ireland means support cannot be offered to the tournament bid.

Northern Ireland could potentially host seven matches if it was involved in a successful bid for the Euros.

“The cross-cutting nature of Northern Ireland participation in the Euros and the lack of both a decision-making mechanism and agreed budget means NI cannot provide ‘in principle support’ for the bid at this stage,” Mr