UEFA finalise bid process

UEFA yesterday finalised the process by which the hosts for the 2008 European Championships will be chosen in Nyon next month.

At one of its regular executive meetings the organisation settled on a two-stage selection procedure under which the eight executive committee members not associated with any of the countries bidding will narrow the contenders from seven to either two or three.

Any members of the committee from countries that have been eliminated from the process will then have a vote in the next stage which will involve balloting until one bid commands the support of an overall majority.

The bid team for Scotland and Ireland will make their final presentation to the committee last as the order is alphabetical. "That gives us a slight advantage," said leading bid official John Henderson yesterday, "but there is still work to do this month because we have to demonstrate how strong this bid is." A final decision is to taken on December 13th.

The European body, meanwhile, has set aside €1.7 million to fund anti-racism campaigns by its member associations in the wake of a number of high profile incidents at major games. Under the scheme the FAI will be entitled to apply for up to €34,178, provided it intends to spend at least as much again. The Eircom League already has plans to run a campaign in association with the government-backed Know Racism organisation over the coming weeks.