Almost 80 per cent of the public want Croke Park to host soccer and rugby internationals, a newspaper survey revealed today.
With the home of Irish rugby and soccer Landsdowne Road expected to beginredevelopment in 2007 or 2008, the GAA is due to debate in April whether Croker should be opened up to top flight soccer and rugby games.
However it is far from certain that the GAA's annual congress will approve soccer superstars like Chelsea's Damien Duff and Manchester United's Roy Keane or rugby international Brian O'Driscoll playing on its turf.
A poll by Millward Brown IMS for the Irish Independentfound 80 per cent of the Irish public believe soccer internationals should be played at the stadium, 14 per cent oppose it and 7 per cent are undecided.
The survey also showed 79 per cent would like to see Six Nations and other rugby internationals played at the stadium, with 14 per cent opposed and 6 per cent undecided.
There are fears that if the GAA reject the proposal, competitive and friendly international soccer matches may have to be played outside the Republic.
The games may have to be staged in Liverpool, London, Manchester or Glasgow.
The poll also indicated a majority of those surveyed (53 per cent) believe the Government should withhold public funding for the redevelopment of Croke Park if the congress votes against allowing rugby and soccer to be played at the stadium.
Last year, the Government approved funding of €40 million for the last stage of Croke Park's redevelopment.