source: StadiumDB.com; author: Miguel Ciołczyk Garcia
“This is very positive news for the whole of Galicia,” said the mayor of Coruña, who welcomed FIFA’s decision after it was confirmed that Riazor will be a two-World Cup venue. However, Vigo doesn’t share this opinion. The mayor of the city of Vigo once again attacked the federation, accusing its president of preventing it from hosting the tournament.
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Wednesday afternoon, Coruña celebrated the election of Estadio de Riazor as host of the World Cup 2030. A milestone that, as the mayor Inés Rey said, came after two years of hard work.
A news (…) that is also very positive for all Galicia and that places the city of Coruña as the social and cultural economic engine of Galicia. (…) We couldn’t be happier,
summed up the mayor of Coruña.
But 160 kilometers south of the City of Glass, staying without repeating the 1982 World Cup isn’t seen as something positive. Louzán did everything possible for Vigo not to be selected for the World Cup,
denounced the mayor Abel Caballero, accusing the president of the Galician federation and candidate to preside the Spanish federation (RFEF) of antiviguism.
We are going to end up claiming it in the courts,
he warned.
The mayor complained of not having received any data or explanations as to why Vigo had been excluded from the bid book. The socialist mayor believes that the decision was caused by the fact that Rafael Louzán hates Vigo or because he was instructed by [the president of the Xunta, People’s Party’s politician, Alfonso] Rueda, because Louzán is a prominent PP militant.
A Coruña, however, is also governed by the PSOE socialists.
© David Estany Garea / Concello A Coruña | Coruña aspires to transform Riazor into a benchmark stadium after the reformBalaídos is, at this moment, the best football field in all of Galicia, by far
boasted Caballero. The mayor was very upset by the statements of Louzán who during an interview with Marca a day before the FIFA congress said: I hope there is still a chance for Valencia to be there and even Vigo.
The even
did not please the Vigo mayor, known for his big projects and his goal of turning the city into an international tourist destination. He says ‘and even’, as if Vigo were an irrelevant territory,
Caballero complained.
The Vigo City Council does not understand the decision. Local politicians thought that the fact that Balaídos is entering the last phase of its modernization, the lack of municipal debt and having a team in first tier should put them as favorites to host the World Cup. The proximity to Portugal and being the largest city in Galicia was another of their arguments.
But in Coruña the assessment is different. The capacity of Riazor, higher than Balaídos’ by 8,000 seats and a preliminary project ready, were its strong points. According to sports councilman Gonzalo Castro the refurbishment will leave a top stadium.
The administration of A Coruña is, unlike the Vigo, grateful to Louzan. He tried to make it two, but unfortunately it could not be so. If Galicia has a venue for the 2030 World Cup, with how difficult that is, it is thanks to Rafael Louzán,
Castro stressed.
Now, the mayor of Coruña has to focus on getting the World Cup project off the ground. With a price tag of 90M€, it has not yet been announced which company will provide the private financing, which will amount to 30% of the total cost. Another problem are the relations with Deportivo. Although the City Council assures that it will benefit greatly
from the refurbishment, the club fears having a half-empty stadium after the World Cup (the average attendance is around 25,000 spectators and the stadium will have a capacity of 42,000) and having to move for the duration of the works.
© RC Celta | Balaídos is in the last phase to obtain a modern and uniform look
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