Source: FOOTYMAD
Future Of Carling Nations Cup In Doubt
Vauxhall's sponsorship of national sides could end Carling Nations Cup The future of the four-team Carling Nations Cup, due to be played in February and May this year, will be discussed this summer, with the prospect of a similar tournament backed by Vauxhall putting the future of the competition in doubt. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will join Republic of Ireland to play for the inaugural Nations Cup at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. England were invited to take part but decided against it, as they were concentrating at the time on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and on their bid to host the 2018 World Cup. However, as Vauxhall are the FA's new lead sponsors and are keen on reviving the home internationals, a one-off tournament involving Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has been suggested for 2013 to mark the 150th anniversary of the formation of the FA.This would clash with the next proposed Nations Cup, provisionally scheduled to be played in Cardiff, and Carling accept it would not be feasible for two such similar tournaments to be played in the same year given the congested international football calendar. A Carling spokesman confirmed that the four associations involved in this year's competition will enter a "period of exclusivity" this summer to discuss the 2013 event, but they are only contractually committed to play in this year's tournament. This leave the possibility open for the SFA, the Football Association of Wales and the Irish Football Association signing up to a 2013 tournament backed by Vauxhall, with the latter two having joined the FA in agreeing sponsorship deals with the car manufacturers and the SFA expected to follow suit.The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) were the lead association in the agreement with Carling and were key to bringing the other associations on board. The FAI will, therefore, play an important role in this summer's discussions, and it remains to be seen whether an invitation will be made to the English FA to compete in an expanded 2013 Carling Nations Cup, notwithstanding their agreement with Vauxhall, though it is unlikely that Vauxhall would be keen to go down that route. The Carling spokesman went on: "In terms of the other associations' commitments (excluding England), they are all committed to this year and committed to a period of exclusivity for the renewal discussions. They can then go on and discuss a separate tournament, but I fail to see how both tournaments could take place in the same calendar year. Carling in essence has first refusal on a tournament of that nature, but England's involvement is still a question mark. Hopefully we'll have a great tournament to set the benchmark and, if anything, Vauxhall are going to have to look at that and see if there is any way they can do it better themselves." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
