March 19 – The European Championships in 2012 could be held at only six venues instead of eight if the stadiums are not completed in time, it was revealed today.
Martin Kallen, the UEFA director responsible for Euro 2012, said in an interview in Poland that they would rather the tournament went ahead with less venues than trying to find new ones at this relatively late stage.
He claimed that the main problems are related to the construction of stadiums in the Ukrainian city of Lviv and Poland’s Wroclaw, where the original building contractor was fired and replaced earlier this year.
Kallen said: ”We’re not very concerned about Wroclaw.
“Lviv is quit another matter.
“Much of the construction work is falling behind the schedule.
“There are problems with funding.
“It’s time to act.
“Otherwise the stadium won’t be completed on time.”
He expressed hope that the facilities for hosting the Championship will be prepared on time, but stressed that the number of host cities could be reduced.
Kallen said UEFA has a plan-B – holding of Euro 2012 in six cities.
A final decision has not been taken yet, but the number of host cities could be reduced to six, he said.
In April 2007, when Ukraine and Poland were controversially chosen to stage the finals of Euro 2012, they proposed holding matches in Kiev, Donetsk, Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine, while matches in Poland were to take place in Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw, and Poznan.
The final is to due take place in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital.
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