Wembley kick-off delayed again

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FA announces fresh Wembley delay (BBC news)

 

Wembley was originally meant to host the FA Cup final on 13 May

The Football Association has confirmed another delay in the Wembley project after revealing all matches planned for 2006 will be moved to other venues.

Work on the stadium will not be completed in time for an England friendly in August and two Euro 2008 qualifiers in September and October.

 

The Community Shield on 13 August will be moved - probably to Cardiff.

 

An FA statement said: "It is clear that the construction of Wembley Stadium is significantly behind schedule."

 

Rugby League's Challenge Cup final on 26 August has also been moved to Twickenham.

 

The FA statement added: "We do not want to set deadlines on when the stadium will open and be faced with the constant speculation surrounding this as we approach individual fixtures.

 

"Therefore, we believe it is important that we are transparent with our plans.

 

"The FA is taking the prudent measure of booking new venues for all of our fixtures until the year end.

 

"The FA and Wembley National Stadium Limited continue to meet with banks and other key stakeholders to discuss the current status of the project and ensure we have the appropriate plans in place moving forward."

 

Sports Minister Richard Caborn said: "Of course what has happened with Wembley concerns me and is a disappointment, but I know when it is completed it will be absolutely magnificent and regarded as the best stadium in the world."

 

Builders Multiplex announced on Friday that it hoped most of the remaining work on the 90,000 seat venue would be completed by the end of the June.

 

However, the firm said it was entitled to a further extension under the terms of its contract in order to put the finishing touches to the project.

 

We have contingency plans in place

 

Rugby Football League spokesman

 

This would extend the completion date until at least the end of September - a year later than the original deadline.

 

Friday was the official deadline for the handover of the £757million stadium from Multiplex to the FA.

 

Three deadlines with the Australian builders have already been missed, and when the handover does eventually take place the FA will need at least three months to test and fit out the stadium.

 

England's first match under Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor as coach is a friendly scheduled for 16 August, followed by the two qualifiers against Andorra on 2 September and Macedonia on 7 October.

 

Those games could now take place at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United.

 

Between October 2006 and June 2007 all of England's competitive fixtures are away from home.

 

ENGLAND FIXTURES 06 & 07

2 Sep 06: Andorra (h)

6 Sep: Macedonia (a)

7 Oct: Macedonia (h)

11 Oct: Croatia (a)

24 Mar 07: Israel (a)

28 Mar: Andorra (a)

6 Jun: Estonia (a)

8 Sep: Israel (h)

12 Sep: Russia (h)

13 Oct: Estonia (h)

17 Oct: Russia (a)

21 Nov: Croatia (h)

 

Although the FA might want to arrange friendlies at home, the first competitive international fixture at the new Wembley will now be on 8 September 2007 when England host Israel in a Euro 2008 qualifier.

 

That will be seven years after England's last game at the ground.

 

Wembley was originally supposed to stage the 2006 FA Cup final on 13 May as well as the Football League play-offs, but the decision was made to move them to Cardiff in February.

 

Meanwhile Twickenham, the HQ of rugby union in England, will host the Challenge Cup final.

 

About 35,000 Challenge Cup final tickets have been sold, with many fans having already booked hotel rooms in London, and that was a major reason why the game has been kept in the capital.

 

NO LONGER AT WEMBLEY

Gigs: Bon Jovi, Take That, Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams

Football: 2006 FA Cup final, Community Shield, two England games

Rugby league: Challenge Cup final

More on cancelled gigs from BBC Entertainment

 

The delay has also affected four music concerts scheduled for this year.

 

The building of the stadium has suffered numerous problems, with a roof beam collapsing last week, resulting in building work being cancelled for a day.

 

There have also been problems with underground sewer pipes at the stadium and workers were sent home on Tuesday after disputes over pay and threats of redundancy.

 

 

 

 

 

[freefred]

Sounds almost as bad as HDP lol