Ally McCoist insists Holyrood will move heaven and earth to stage the Euros at Hampden - because it would be too important politically for the plug to be pulled by UEFA.
The former Scotland hero is convinced Nicola Sturgeon - who claimed on Friday the Government was ‘absolutely intent’ on making sure the four scheduled matches in Glasgow took place - will do everything possible to maintain the city’s place as one of the 12 hosts.
Speaking on BT Sport, McCoist, commenting on fears that Scotland’s cautious approach to having fans inside stadia could mean UEFA take Hampden’s three group matches and one last 16 tie elsewhere, admitted the thought of no Euros was horrible and said: “It would be a disaster.
“I think it is too important politically for it not to happen. And by that I mean, the current Government will be doing, as you can imagine, absolutely everything to get that on.
“For the right reasons, obviously. But obviously for their own reasons as well because it would be horrendous for the Scottish public and the Scottish football fans up and down the country if that was not to happen.
“I was in at Hampden last week talking to a couple of the guys and it is going to be close. It’s difficult. I’m not sure it’ll get over the line. I’m sitting with everything crossed like all Scottish football fans and I’m very much probably more hopeful than I am optimistic.
“But I just think for a number of reasons, that it has to happen.
“But it won’t happen unless medically it is 100 per cent safe.”
The First Minister responded to the fears that Hampden would miss out on the showpiece games during her daily briefing, insisting that she remains hopeful that the Mount Florida fixtures won’t be “lost”.
Sturgeon said: “I certainly hope so and nobody wants to lose the Euros, and I don’t think we should be in the position right now of thinking that is the case.
“There is a deadline that all countries have to give an indication to UEFA what they think will be possible in terms of fan attendance and fan zones.
“All countries are grappling with this, not just Scotland. We are standing here on March 5 and while we are really hopeful, looking too far ahead is just difficult to do, but let me be clear we are absolutely intent on having Hampden as a host stadium for the Euros.
“We’ve always been keen on it and now more so that we would like the opportunity to see Scotland play there as well.”
