By Andrew Warshaw
February 3 – Ukraine has heeded UEFA’s threat to strip of them of Euro 2012 co-hosting rights by dropping calls for the departure of their federation’s long-time President, Hrigory Surkis (pictured).
Last Friday (January 28) Ukraine were given a week to resolve a row over Government interference or be banned from international football.
UEFA’s ruling Executive warned the country could be heavily sanctioned unless it received a satisfactory response.
The Ukrainians have duly withdrawn calls for Hrigory Surkis to quit though whether this is a tactical move in order to buy time remains to be seen.
“A decision has been made to withdraw the demands,” Serhiy Storozhenko, a senior Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) official who had led the rebellion against Surkis, said.
“We are withdrawing the written demands…for the holding of an emergency congress and we will not demand a replacement of the management of the FFU before the end of Euro 2012 and before the end of the term of the FFU’s president.”
Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich had earlier moved to calm the situation, denying that the state was interfering in footballing matters and calling for talks to be put off until after the tournament.
“We can resolve the conflict in the FFU by postponing discussions on its internal problems until next year,” he told Reuters.
Surkis has headed Ukrainian football for 10 years and opponents have pledged to continue to seek his dismissal despite the warnings from UEFA and FIFA.
He has been accused of favouring Dynamo Kiev, a team run by his brother Ihor Surkis.
Although a letter has been sent to both FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke and his UEFA counterpart Gianno Infantino promising not to try and push Surkis out in the short-term, it seems pretty clear from the wording that the issue is still on the agenda.
“We retain our right to strictly monitor the actions of the FFU leadership in order to prevent pressure being exerted on collective members, prevent corruption and the continuation of the conflict’s escalation,” the letter stated.
“We believe that FIFA and UEFA have to implement their function in monitoring together with us, dividing the responsibility for the prevention of violations of the FFU Regulations.
“We are sure that you will appreciate our joint aspiration for mutual understanding and respect.”
Ukraine, which is co-hosting Euro 2012 with Poland, has been dogged by infrastructural delays since being awarded the finals.
Although there is no direct connection between this and Surkis’ role as President, the latest controversy has only served to further undermine the country’s capabilities.
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