Vervoort pessimistic about Brussels hosting Euro 2020

There is a "50:50" chance that Brussels will not be ready to host its Euro 2020 football matches because the new national stadium will not be completed in time, the region's minister-president Rudi Vervoort has said.

Speaking in Berlin, where Brussels puts on an annual trade mission to attract German business and tourism, Vervoort said he was not optimistic about Euro 2020. The Belgian capital is one of 13 host cities for the tournament and is expected to host the opening match.

European football governing body Uefa has given Brussels until 20 November to to have all the relevant building permits granted to start construction on the new Eurostadium at Heysel. Uefa has also demanded "a realistic and guaranteed construction schedule" by this date.

Vervoort said he was confident the stadium, which is in fact situated in the Flemish region, in Grimbergen, would one day be built. "It's the only suitable land that we have at our disposal," he said.

"By entrusting this national stadium project exclusively to private firms, we politicians have found ourselves powerless," Vervoort added. "But in the event of failure, it will be us politicians who will be held to blame."

Private property developer Ghelamco has yet to receive the necessary building permits from the Flemish authorities. Uefa will decide on 7 December whether Brussels has made enough progress, or whether Stockholm, Cardiff or London's Wembley stadium should host the matches instead.