The British government has said it will not contribute towards the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast in time for Euro 2028.

The UK's Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn confirmed the move this evening and described it as a "difficult decision."

He said the estimated building costs had risen "dramatically" from £180m (€213m) when the bid was awarded last October to "potentially over £400m" (€473m).

The ground had been earmarked to host matches, alongside the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, as part of the joint Ireland and UK bid to host Euro 2028.

There is now a call for Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork to be included in the bid instead.

Casement Park in Belfast which has been derelict since 2013. Image: PA Images / Alamy

In a letter to Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Mr Benn said they do not believe the project can be completed in time.

"The government has always been committed to ensuring that Northern Ireland could host the Euros if there was any way to achieve that," he said.

"Having sought expert advice and analysis, we have concluded that there is a significant risk that the stadium would not be built in time (including to host essential test events well in advance of the tournament).

"This is in part because in the period between the awarding of Euro 2028 and the election of the new government, almost no progress was made to deliver the stadium build."

'Appropriate way forward'

Mr Benn said "there is a significant risk that it would not be built in time for the tournament".

"We have therefore, regrettably, decided that it is not appropriate for the UK government to provide funding to seek to build Casement Park in time to host matches at Euro 2028," he said.

"This has been a very difficult decision to make, given our belief in the Euro 2028 partnership, but it is the only way forward in the circumstances".

A general view of Casement Park GAA stadium in Belfast, 14-08-2023. Image: PA Images / Alamy

Mr Benn said the UK government will engage with Northern Ireland partners, including the GAA, in the coming weeks to discuss the decision as well as "seeking views on the appropriate way forward for Casement Park".

The Irish Government has agreed to spend up to €50m for the development of Casement Park.

The re-development was announced earlier this year as part of an €800m package of Shared Island projects with Northern Ireland.

Main image: A general view of Casement Park in Belfast, 10-10-23. Image: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile