Newcastle To Play Europa League At Sunderland’s Stadium of Light?

Newcastle United’s first European match since 2007 might have to be played at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, it has emerged today.

Thanks to Everton’s failure to win at Old Trafford yesterday, The Magpies are now guaranteed a place in Europe next season and whilst the Geordies are still hopeful of a top four Champions League finish, they know they will at least have a Europa League spot. Something which may leave the club temporarily needing a new home.

St. James’ Park is one of the major football venues for this summer’s Olympic games with the ground set to host the Woman’s Quarter Finals on August 3rd and the Men’s Quarter Finals on August 4th.

This means that if Newcastle were to finish sixth in the Premier League come the end of the season and Liverpool were to defeat Chelsea in the FA Cup final, then Newcastle would have to enter the Europa League via the Third Qualifying Round First Leg on August 2nd. Liverpool, by virtue of winning the cup and not finishing in the top five, would go straight into the Group stages but Newcastle would have to win a two-legged fixture to qualify.

This possible scenario has left Newcastle’s hierarchy scrambling around as their 52,000+ home has already been booked out for the Olympics. They are mulling over a request to bitter rivals Sunderland for permission to play an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime fixture at the 49,000 Stadium of Light where Newcastle would be the home team against European opponents. Sunderland’s ground is the only realistic venue within 30 miles that could hold anywhere near the amount of fans that Newcastle’s first match in Europe would require and other, less controversial alternatives such as Gateshead’s stadium only holds 11,800 and would be way too small.

There is a possibility Newcastle would ask Darlington FC to allow The Magpies to play at The Darlington Arena which does hold 25,000, a figure that despite being half the size of St. James’ Park would be deemed acceptable. Though the infamous pitch invasion of last summer’s pre-season friendly which saw several fights break and embarrassed the club could mean that alternative is off the menu.

Nothing is particularly clear when trying to work out UEFA’s decision making but presumably there is the option that special compensation will be allowed to Newcastle to play the away first-leg fixture first as to not clash with the Olympics, or they will be allowed to play the game at an earlier/later date.

But the reports are that Newcastle aren’t so sure and the prospect of the Toon playing a home fixture at Stadium of Light remains if Newcastle were to end up sixth this season.

 

I really just don't know what to think of that. How bizarre.

 

No.

 

http://whatculture.com/sport/newcastle-to-play-europa-league-at-sunderlands-stadium-of-light.php

 

I would love this personally, its like the ultimate slap in the face!

Probably a load of bullshit and will never happen, but it would be hilarious if it did.

 

Agreed !

 

There's a line Sid, and you just crossed it!

 

Will never happen as we'd never be able to get the smell out.

 

The smell of soap?

 

Don't worry you wouldn't have to go to any trouble just for us. We could get past the smell, we're made of stern stuff. We'll have smelt worse (Roker Park and everyones ****ed a mackem lass, they're easy) We'd just set up some chemical cleaning points on our side of the bridge for when our supporters return.

 

does anyone else find it really funny when the topic of the rivalry boils down to the odour of the fans?

It's immature as hell but it really makes me laugh for some reason.

 

Yeah I'd noticed that, funny how both sets of fans call each other the unwashed.

 

Is this a true story??

That's one of the most extraordinary things i've ever seen.

And it is factual information that Geordies smell like a mixture of wheat & failure.

 

Hang on, surely this would give us bragging rights again, we would be the first club to see European football and not the sports direct.

Headlines would be Stadium of Light in Europe, fantastic.

WARM POUCH MAY HAVE TO SIT ON MY PINK SEAT

 

If true, make them pay for relaying the turf and take a 30% cut on the tickets.

 

But then people would read further down the story, and see that it's Newcastle playing, and laugh.

 

Seems a bit steep. How about we let you have a 1000 tickets to come and watch? You can then revel in the first time the SOL has seen such a talent ridden home side.

I'll happily sit on the pink seat Syd, as long as we get to bring the Newcastle United European football bandwagon to the SOL to rub your noses in it.

 

Never going to happen. 40000 geordies running around Sunderland? For one the Police would never allow it and I trust that our hierarchy if met with such a ludicrous proposition would meet it with a blunt f off. Why wouldnt the Riverside be considered if Darlinton would be?