Euro 2020 stadium decision due on Monday

A town council meeting in Grimbergen next Monday will determine whether Brussels can be a host city for the Euro 2020 football tournament.

Local officials will vote on granting planning permission to property developer Ghelamco for the new 60,000-seater Eurostadium on the site of Parking C at Heysel. A public consultation prompted 1,275 residents to file a complaint against the plan.

A positive decision on Monday is crucial if Brussels is to welcome Euro 2020. European football governing body Uefa gave Brussels a 20 November deadline to have the necessary building permits for the stadium in place.

Grimbergen's decision will be validated by the Flemish government within a fortnight. Uefa will decide on 7 December whether the Brussels matches in Euro 2020 can go ahead, or whether another city should step in.

Brussels minister-president Rudi Vervoort said last month that there was a "50:50" chance that the stadium would not be ready in time. The Belgian capital is one of 13 host cities for Euro 2020 and is expected to host the opening match.