The much-delayed rebuilt Wembley Stadium may not be ready in time to stage the FA Cup final on 19 May because of a legal dispute between contractors.
The Guardian newspaper has reported that an impending legal case involving Wembley contractor Multiplex and one of its subcontractors Honeywell could delay the staging of test events.
The newspaper said the dispute had delayed progress on the stadium, which has cost over £750 million.
Work was originally due be completed by 31 January, 2006, but repeated delays, including a 50 tonne steel roof girder slipping out of place, forced the FA to abandon the stadium's fanfare opening and move the 2006 FA Cup final back to its temporary home of Cardiff.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick said last week that everything was 'on track' to host the FA Cup on 19 May at Wembley but pointedly added that there were 'no guarantees' it would be ready on time.
The last match played at the old stadium was in October 2000 when England lost 1-0 to Germany.
The planned test events need to be held at Wembley before the stadium is granted a health and safety certificate with an U-21 international between England and Italy provisionally scheduled to be the first 'test' match there on 24 March.
