By Andrew Warshaw
October 9 – The 2012 European Championship finals were never in jeopardy despite Ukraine’s initial inability to meet strict criteria, according to UEFA’s chief operating officer, Martin Kallen (pictured).
But he has admitted that UEFA were at one stage worried the joint hosts may not be able to prove they could stage the tournament with neighbours Poland.
Last week Kallen took to the podium at the Leaders in Football conference in London alongside Markiian Lubkivsky, head of the local organising committee, and did his best to allay fears next summer’s Euro finals could end up being an infrastructural disaster.
“We are sure we can play the tournament in Ukraine and Poland,” said Kallen, “but it’s true we were perhaps a little less sure one year ago.
“On our side, we always wanted to have it there, it was only a question of how many cities would be used.
“Many of the projects had no funding before but they are now fully dedicated to the job working more or less around the clock.”
While admitting there were still “big, big challenges”, Lubkivsky explained that a change of regime in Ukraine had enabled the relevant finances to be put in place, speeding up work on facilities rather than prioritising electoral issues.
“In the last six months we have overcome the problems of stadium construction,” he said.
“Now we need to be focused on the operational side like airports and motorways.
“Step by step we are trying to solve all the issues.”
UEFA has been closely monitoring progress after threatening to strip Ukraine of its hosting role last spring.
As an alternative, UEFA president Michel Platini at one point said that as a compromise Poland could have six cities and Ukraine two.
But they have now confirmed that the 31-match event will take place as originally planned with four cities in Poland and four in Ukraine.
Warsaw will host the opening game on June 8, while Kiev’s 69,000-seater stadium is due to stage the final even though it is still under construction.
“Our stadiums will be finished in 2011 a year ahead of time,” pledged Lubkivsky.
“Originally our idea was to have everything ready two years ahead of time but that is not 100 per cent achievable.”
One of Ukraine’s most pressing challenges in the months ahead will be to facilitate the likely influx of thousands of Russian fans.
“We have to simplify the situation on the borders with Russia,” admitted Kallen.
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