Ukraine given deadline to make up Euro 2012 delays

UEFA president Michel Platini on Thursday told Ukraine it had a two-month deadline to make up lost time in preparations for co-hosting the 2012 European Championships with Poland.

“I said that in the coming two months, they have to show some strong signs that Ukraine will progress,” former France star Platini said after meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

“It’s not an ultimatum,” he said, adding that Yanukovych “knows that there is work to do but he gives all guarantees that the Euro 2012 will take place in the best conditions in Ukraine”.

Platini expressed his hope that all four bidding Ukrainian cities would be able to host matches in the tournament, but warned that if outstanding issues were not resolved, only two venues would be used as opposed to four in Poland.

The UEFA chief has visited the four host cities — Kiev, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lviv — during this, his most recent two-day visit, inspecting stadiums and airports.