Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt has challenged Economy Minister Gordon’s assertion that the lack of an Executive means Northern Ireland cannot join the joint bid for football’s Euro 2028 finals.

The Strangford MLA has pointed out there is a precedent from the bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Mike Nesbitt said:

“During a previous period when the Executive was down, the then Head of the Civil Service found a workaround, whereby the leaders of the Executive parties signed a commitment to confirm that if the Executive had been in place, it would back the finances necessary for the bid.

“This was accepted by the decision makers, although in the end the event was awarded to France.

“Given the hundreds of millions of pounds a successful bid could generate for the local economy, the Economy Minister must withdraw his claim and work collaboratively with the party leaders to progress the bid for the benefit of the people he was elected to serve.”