Infrastructural investments at Europa Point Stadium allow for football to come home

The Europa Point Stadium has tonight hosted a friendly against Albania.

This isn't just a warm up for the athletes but for the stadium itself which gets ready to host the first ever International to be played there in front of over 2,000 spectators.

It's been years of discussions and numerous UEFA inspections and finally around 2,100 spectators will be able to enjoy international matches at home.

Europa Point Stadium does not meet UEFA standards but an agreement has been reached for games to be played there while a new stadium is being built.

Over a thousand seats have been added.

There have also been upgrades to the Broadcasting facilities and the lighting.

The improvements have been funded by UEFA which has funding streams specifically for infrastructure.

The works have been carried out against and around the clock.

GFA General Secretary Ivan Robba says this makes financial sense as playing in Faro would have required operational costs that the GFA would have had to pay.  Instead the infrastructural funds will be invested on a local facility and the GFA will save on operational expenses.

But the important thing, he says is to bring football home. 

The World Cup Qualifier sees Gibraltar play against Faro Islands on Monday.