Aston Villa withdraw from staging 2012 Olympic football matches

BIRMINGHAM will not play a role in the London 2012 Olympics after Aston Villa withdrew from staging football events at their Villa Park home.

NO THANKS: Aston Villa have turned down the chance to stage matches during the 2012 Olympic football tournament

Villa chairman Randy Lerner claims plans for major construction work at the home of Martin O’Neill’s Premiership side would make staging preliminary events during the Olympics impossible.

Villa Park, which staged group matches during the 1966 World Cup and is a key part of the 2018 bid, currently has a 42,640 capacity.

However, the club have planning permission to rebuild the North Stand and make other additions that would increase the capacity to around 51,000. 

“The club has confirmed that it is considering plans for major construction work at Villa Park over the next few years,” said London 2012 organisers Locog in a statement.

“Whilst these plans are being developed, the club is unable to commit fully to hosting matches as part of the London 2012 Olympic football competition.    

“We have been working with our selected football venues over the past eight months progressing and confirming plans across the tournament, and needed firm commitments from all the host stadia.

“It has been agreed with Aston Villa that because they are unable to make firm commitments to the project, the best course of action is for Villa Park to be withdrawn as an Olympic venue.   

“We are grateful to Aston Villa for its support to date, and is continuing with its planning in order to deliver a first class Olympic football tournament.”

London 2012 officials will now start a search for an alternative venue to Villa Park - with the IOC's criteria stipulating a capacity of 30,000.