20 Nov 2008Ukrainian government dissolve Euro 2012 agency

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

Euro 2012 co-host Ukraine announced yesterday (November 19th) that it has dissolved an agency which was enlisted with the task of overseeing preparations for the tournament.

Following complaints from European football's governing body, Uefa, deputy premier Ivan Vasyunyk confirmed that the agency will be replaced by a government-led, 50-strong "coordinating bureau".

The news is the latest in a long line of problems experienced by the country in the run-up to the event, which have including difficulties in modernising stadia, hotels and transport links.

Indeed, Uefa president Michel Platini has visited capital city Kiev twice so far this year and explained in September that the tournament may be wrested from the grasp of Ukraine and co-host Poland if they do not make the "necessary efforts".

Grigory Surkis, president of Ukraine's football federation, explained: "Uefa has consistently stressed that it is not happy with the agency's work."

Poland's role has also been tarnished of late by claims of corruption in the government and its influence in football-related matters, but sports minister Miroslav Drzewiecki claimed that he was unconcerned by the developments.

"I am not worried by this at all. The decision is just an adjustment to the requirements and expectations of UEFA," he said.

"Their wish was for Ukraine to implement a similar model to the one we have in Poland."

Scotland have previously expressed an interest in hosting the tournament should Uefa decide that Poland and Ukraine have not done enough to justify their selection.

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