Uefa denies 2012 doubts
Euro 2012 will be the second joint-hosting after Austria and Switzerland, 2008
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Tuesday, 26, Jun 2007 09:57
European football's governing body Uefa has denied media rumours that the organisation is having doubts over the suitability of Ukraine and Poland to host the European Championships in 2012.
Uefa awarded the finals tournament to the joint bid from eastern Europe in April - much to the surprise of the Italian Football Federation whose bid was the consensus favourite to win the vote.
Ukraine and Poland also ousted another joint-bid from Croatia and Hungary to land the 2012 finals.
But rumours have surfaced recently suggesting stadia and infrastructure in Ukraine may not be up to the task of hosting the 16-team competition and that Uefa had called an emergency meeting with the host nations to discuss details of their bid.
In a statement, the European governing body denied this was the case, saying that had no concerns regarding the redevelopment of the Olympiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kiev.
"Uefa would like to clarify the facts," the statement read.
"Media reports suggesting that Uefa has cast doubt, in any way, on the country's ability to host the Euro 2012 final round, due to the rebuilding plans for the stadium, are well wide of the mark.
"It has been alleged that Uefa was overly-concerned at the plans for the stadium at a recent meeting held in Nyon, Switzerland with the two appointed host countries, Poland and Ukraine.
"Uefa would like to point out that the purpose of the meeting was to have a global review of the situation in all crucial operational areas with the host associations, and to identify common steps to allow the project to start.
"Uefa is not unduly concerned over the detailed issues surrounding the stadiums for Euro 2012, and the meeting did not focus on any of these areas in particular. Finally, Uefa would like to point out that it is currently concentrating all its efforts on the final organisational plans for Euro 2008, which are in full swing."
Violent scenes that surrounded Serie A matches in January this year are thought to have cost the Italian bid dearly.
One policeman was killed in crowd trouble that flared up around the Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo, resulting in a brief suspension of all league matches in the country.