Platini gets tough with Ukraine over Euro 2012

UEFA president Michel Platini on Thursday vowed to ask authorities in Kiev why Ukraine’s preparations to co-host the 2012 European Championship with Poland have been delayed.

“We’ll see if there is political stability (in Ukraine),” said Platini after the UEFA Congress meeting here.

“I’ll go to Kiev in April and I will have a frank and serious conversation with the new government to see the situation, and also maybe bang my fist on the table a bit.

“We are confident (that Ukraine will be able to co-host the tournament) but I’ve seen photos of the stadium and I’m not completely reassured. We can’t change the date. It will be Euro 2012, not 2014.”

Ukraine’s preparations to organise the quadrennial football showpiece have been hit by political turmoil and serious economic problems in the country.

Earlier in the morning, Platini told those attending the congress: “Yes, Euro 2012 will certainly take place as planned and as promised in Poland and Ukraine. These countries will welcome the football of Europe in June 2012.”

The former France star underlined the “desire and enthusiasm” of the Poles and Ukrainians, but admitted that there “numerous difficulties” to overcome.

“We’ve had to constantly adapt and re-adapt our approach to take this major challenge forward,” he added.

“What’s more, the economic crisis has arrived there and struck extremely hard in one of the two countries (Ukraine).

“Of course conditions will not be exactly the same as what we had at the last two tournaments,” Platini continued, in reference to the 2004 tournament in Portugal and the 2008 edition in Switzerland and Austria.

Directly addressing the men behind Euro 2012, he said: “Mr Surkis (president of the Ukrainian football federation), Mr Lato (president of the Polish federation), you absolutely must hold your course in the final stretch.

“I believe in you, we believe in you. So don’t weaken but re-double your efforts. It’s not over yet!”