April 8 – Ukraine have been given only two months to get preparations for the 2012 European Championships back on track if they are to continue to co-host them with Poland, UEFA President Michel Platini said today.
The Frenchman issued the warning after meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who last week pledged to spend 30 billion hryvnia (£2.5 billion/$3.8 billion) to help ensure that the country would be ready in time.
Platini said: ”I said that in the coming two months, they have to show some strong signs that Ukraine will progress.
“It’s not an ultimatum.
“[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.
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