UEFA concern at lack of hotels in Ukraine for Euro 2012

European football’s governing body UEFA expressed their concern Wednesday at the shortage of hotel rooms in four Ukrainian cities due to host Euro 2012 matches.

UEFA delegation chief Martin Kallen said they were otherwise satisfied with progress being made by Ukraine in their preparations for the tournament they will co-host with Poland.

“At present we’re happy with the progress made,” Kallen said.

But he added: “Each town still has a lot of work to do. In each town we don’t have enough hotel rooms.”

The championship will be hosted in Kiev, Lviv, Donetsk and Kharkiv.

As well as the lack of hotels, Kallen said that the capital Kiev had to resolve problems of transport links between the airport and the city centre.

The delay in the construction of a new airport at Donetsk, and a new stadium in the western town of Lviv, were also pinpointed as areas of concern.

“Lviv has a lot to do in the next two months to meet the deadline,” said Kallen.

Co-hosts Poland received UEFA’s seal of approval for four of their venues last May.

By contrast the Ukrainian capital has only been judged capable of hosting first round, quarter-final and semi-final matches.

To have a hope of hosting the most important match, the final, Kiev must overhaul their sporting installations, transport and hotels or see the honour go to Warsaw.

The final decision on how many matches the Ukraine will host will be taken on December 10-11 during the UEFA executive committee meeting at Funchal, Madeira.