Platini to visit Poland and Ukraine 2012 chiefs

UEFA president Michel Platini will visit Poland and the Ukraine on April 15 and 16 to meet officials organising the troubled 2012 European Championships.

“This visit is important because I will bring with me the top UEFA directors so that we can get a precise idea of what’s happening in Poland and the Ukraine,” explained Platini during a press conference here on Wednesday at the end of UEFA’s 33rd Ordinary Congress.

“We’ll spend one day in each country to listen to the presentations of the local organising committees on stadia, cities and infrastructures,” he added.

“We’re doing this because there’s a steering committee that will discuss everything at the beginning of May and I’d prefer to have seen the host cities in order to see the progress that is being made on the stadia and the cities.”

Regarding the preparation work, the former France international said that “the situation at the organisational level is not easy for Poland and the Ukraine, and it’s not easy for UEFA either”.

“But these two countries are working thoroughly and UEFA is also doing everything it can to take things forward,” he insisted.

Poland and the Ukraine were a surprise choice to host the tournament and have since been dogged by concerns about their ability to meet their commitments regarding the construction of stadia and the creation of transport and hotel infrastructures.