ENGLAND'S hopes of staging the World Cup in 2006 were boosted yesterday when it was announced that Euro 96 made a profit of stg£69 million.
The publication of the official European Championship balance sheet was last night seen as the economic vindication of the Football Association's ability to stage a major competition.
While all that money will be going to UEFA rather than the coffers at London's Lancaster Gate, the FA will receive £4 million for reaching the last four. Winners Germany will get £6 million, with Scotland's share at £2.5 million for coming third behind England in their group.
Of the total profit, £47 million will be split between the 16 competing nations. The remaining £22 million will go into UEFA's Special Fund to develop the game in eastern Europe.
Said an FA spokesman, Steve Double: "When it comes to bidding for the World Cup, there can be no better example to point to than that we have proved we can organise a tournament that was a huge success, in terms of crowds, the atmosphere and the financial side as well.
"We showed in the summer that we can organise a trouble free tournament, with games played in the highest quality stadiums."
The Euro 96 tournament director, Glen Kirton, claimed the financial news topped off a terrific tournament.
