No positive UEFA comment on Ukraine´s Euro 2012 plans

UEFA on Friday said their visit to Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine had been “useful” but offered no positive comment on the country's state of preparations for European football's showcase tournament.

“UEFA considers the visit by its official delegation to Ukraine to have been useful, yielding much information,” European football's governing body said in a statement after the end of its visit to the Ukrainian capital.

“UEFA notes that the fact that the Ukrainian government is committed to doing everything possible to meet the requirements needed for a well-organised Euro 2012,” it said, adding that it had been happy to receive “new information” from Ukrainian authorities.

The dry statement is in stark contrast to the positive assessment handed down by the same 10-strong UEFA delegation on Poland on Wednesday.

The Polish sports ministry, after talks between Poland's leaders and UEFA president Michel Platini, announced: “They consider that plans are being handled in a professional way, following the best possible examples and in tight cooperation with UEFA experts.

“If the project continues in the same manner as over the past months, it will be a success.”

French football legend Platini has issued repeated warnings to Ukraine and co-hosts Poland, who in April 2007 were UEFA's surprise pick to host the 2012 edition of the quadrennial, 16-nation championships, beating Italy and joint bidders Hungary and Croatia.

Platini has set the two countries a September 24 deadline to prove they are on target with their preparations.

“The coming three months will be very important for Ukraine,” Platini said Thursday at the end of a meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.

Platini, who described his impressions as “superb” after talks with the president and Prime Minister Yulia Timochenko, said he had received “oral guarantees” on the start of preparations.