A major European stadium which has held a number of international games faces an uncertain future
Just 22 years after playing its part at Euro 2004, Estadio do Bessa in Portugal could be knocked down. The future of the ground is uncertain after Boavista - the club that called it their home for more than a century - were declared bankrupt.
The stadium hosted three matches when Portugal hosted the Euros. All three were in the group stages and all three - Greece vs Spain, Latvia vs Germany and Denmark vs Sweden - ended in draws.
Portugal's national team also played several international matches at the stadium, which was initially built in 1910 and then rebuilt on the same site ahead of Euro 2004. The most recent of those was in 2017, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 World Cup qualifying victory over the Faroe Islands.
However, Boavista's woes saw the ground put up for sale in April. The Porto-based club won the Primeira Liga in 2000/01 but later dropped down the divisions amid financial difficulties - returning to the top flight in 2014 - and have been unable to use their home since suffering relegation at the end of last season.
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They returned to the top tier but were relegated last season and barred from playing in the lower divisions. As reported by The Sun, debts of £130million prompted the club to liquidate assets, with their stadium put up for sale in April with a asking price of £27m.
The same publication says supporters groups are attempting to block a sale, which could lead to a demolition or an expensive restructuring depending on the wishes of the new owners. It last held a league game in May 2025, when Porto won at Boavista on the final day of the 2024/25 season.
According to Marca, club president Rui Garrido Pereira remains dedicated to saving the club while city officials haven't ruled out intervening to stop a demolition. "The club is a landmark in the city and, ultimately, the City Council will exercise its right of first refusal to guarantee the continuity of sporting activities," politician Manuel Pizarro said.
During Boavista's glory days, Estadio do Bessa was a Champions League stadium. Liverpool and Manchester United were among the visitors in the 2001/02 season, while the following year saw Celtic win there through a late Henrik Larsson goal to book their place in the UEFA Cup final.
A number of Premier League and international players have turned out for the club, including in more recent times. England midfielder Angel Gomes spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Boavista from Lille, when one of his team-mates included former Manchester City star Javi Garcia.
Their stadium's first major tournament game was one which - unbeknownst to fans at the time - featured the eventual Euro 2004 winners. Angelos Charisteas equalised for Greece after Fernando Morientes opened the scoring for Spain, with Otto Rehhagel's side going on to claim three straight 1-0 wins in the knockout stages to lift the trophy.