By Andrew Warshaw
October 25 – European football’s governing body has called for firm evidence in response to allegations of corruption in the bidding race for Euro 2012.
Former Cyprus football official Spyros Marangos has claimed that money changed hands before Ukraine and Poland became the surprise choice to jointly host the tournament instead of Italy.
UEFA has given Marangos two days to provide “tangible elements of proof” pending an investigation.
Lawyers for Marangos say he has tried for the past two years to draw UEFA’s attention to the allegations for which he claimed to have witnesses.
He had apparently been due to meet the head of UEFA’s Disciplinary Committee in August, but the meeting had been cancelled by UEFA four days beforehand.
The allegations are the latest to rock football following the FIFA scandal over alleged vote-rigging and collusion.
It is claimed UEFA officials accepted €11 million (£10 million/$15 million) worth of bribes to help Poland and Ukraine win its controversial bid.
Marangos says he has information that five members of UEFA’s Executive Committee accepted the money to vote for Poland and Ukraine ahead of rivals Italy and another joint bid from Croatia and Hungary.
Poland and Ukraine polled eight votes at the UEFA Congress in Cardiff in April 2007 when they were awarded the tournament while Italy got four and Croatia/Hungary went away empty-handed.
There was widespread surprise at the decision at the time and the event has since been overshadowed by infrastructural problems in Ukraine.
UEFA said today it had “taken note” of the latest claims but wants firmer evidence before acting.
“In relation to this as yet unsubstantiated claim UEFA wishes to state that, as always, it can only open an investigation on the basis of tangible elements of proof,” a statement said.
“To date these have never been provided to UEFA by this individual prior to any meeting and this in spite of repeated requests by Europe’s governing football body.
“UEFA has therefore today, via its legal counsel, again requested said individual to submit to UEFA any evidence that according to him should confirm his allegations, by Wednesday, October 27, at the latest.
“If any such tangible elements are delivered, UEFA will then open the corresponding disciplinary case and will submit such evidence to the competent authorities.”
But if no evidence comes forward, the organisation warned, legal action could be taken against Marangos.
“If no such evidence is submitted within the time frame, UEFA reserves its right to start legal proceedings, civil and criminal, against any individual or individuals making such defamatory statements,” UEFA said.
“The fight against corruption is taken very seriously by UEFA which has taken, and continues to take, all necessary steps to sanction and eradicate it, but UEFA aims equally to protect integrity and truth by taking action based on facts and evidence alone.”
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Borys Kolesnikov, in charge of the country’s planning for Euro 2012, denied any wrongdoing.
“These allegations are three years old,” he said.
“If they were at least partly true we wouldn’t have any championship.”
Polish officials were even more forthright.
“This is just slander, it’s not even worth talking about,” said Polish Sports Ministry spokesman Jakub Kwiatkowski.
“We are not treating it seriously, as there is no proof presented.
“By this logic anyone could walk around talking whatever - that’s nonsense.”
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October 2010: UEFA members accepted millions to vote for Poland and Ukraine to host Euro 2012, it is claimed