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UEFA to stand by Poland, Ukraine for now
Darren Ennis, Reuters
UEFA will rebuke Poland and Ukraine again next week over a lack of progress
in their preparations to host Euro 2012, but will stop short of withdrawing
the right to stage the event.
A long-awaited progress report on the ability of the two countries to
host the European soccer championship to be submitted to UEFA's executive
committee next week will criticise both nations, but will not recommend
UEFA reverse its decision, sources familiar with the report told Reuters.
"The report has yet to be finalised, but from what I have seen so
far, no, it will not recommend that Poland and Ukraine lose the tournament,"
one source said.
"Basically, it will criticise heavily both countries for lack of
progress, but also praise some of the efforts that have been made since
UEFA president Michel Platini visited the two countries.
"But crucially it will say it is too early to take a decision on
whether to withdraw the tournament from them," the source added.
Platini has visited Poland and Ukraine twice this year and warned officials
they risked losing the right to stage the event if stadiums and infrastructure
were not ready.
Next week's report is based on a visit by UEFA inspectors to the two countries
last month.
Poland and Ukraine were awarded the 2012 tournament last year, beating
off competition from Italy and a joint bid by Hungary and Croatia.
But both countries have struggled to tackle the colossal tasks of upgrading
stadiums and modernising airports, rail and road networks and hotels.
Poland is suffering from labour shortages in the construction sector,
while the major stumbling block for Kiev is the renovation of the 84,000-seat
Olympic stadium, due to stage the final.
Warsaw said in July it is prepared to provide six of the eight venues
needed for the tournament if its co-host is not ready on time.
"We are still waiting on the final details of the report, but the
main concern in Poland will be on the infrastructure such as motorways,
rail links and hotels, rather than stadiums," another source said.
"Ukraine will most likely face more criticism than Poland as there
are a lot more outstanding issues with Kiev."
UEFA officials have denied any contingency plan exists to move the tournament
if Poland or Ukraine failed to meet requirements. But some UEFA sources
have suggested Spain, Germany and Italy as possible alternatives.
"We know full well that there are a number of countries ready to
step in," the UEFA spokesman said.
Timesofmalta.com,
18th September 2008
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Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko
kicks a ball at the new Dnepropetrovsk stadium during an opening
ceremony last weekend. The venue will be used during the Euro 2012
finals. (timesofmalta.com)
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