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JuveJay
In Poland-Ukraine.

Ok well if you didn't know my thoughts on the hosting criteria see here; http://football-chat.net/forums/index.php?...779&hl=2012

More news:

QUOTE
Ukraine’s Euro 2012 bid is in jeopardy following serious economic and governmental woes.

It’s something that may not be on the minds of many international soccer fans right now given the organizational headache that is South Africa 2010, but Ukraine, one of the hosts for Euro 2012, is in serious financial and political trouble, according to an article published yesterday in the New York Times.

The Times has reported that “lines are sprouting at banks, the currency is wilting and even a government default seems possible.” On the political side of things, citizens are calling for the resignation of President Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the 2004 Orange Revolution which brought a pro-western government to Kiev.

Clearly, this is not the best environment in which to be hosting an international tournament. Although there are three years until the tournament, Platini and his men in Nyon had better be seeking alternate solutions. Interestingly, Platini thinks Poland may be capable of hosting the tournament on its own. In fact, some think the global economic downturn may actually benefit Poland in its preparation for 2012.

Still, Platini should not place all his faith in Poland, a country with relatively poor infrastructure and stadiums compared to Western European nations. Without Ukraine, Poland would be completely incapable of hosting Euro 2012 on its own. UEFA should invest some serious time and energy in speaking to English, Spanish, and Italian FA officials, although Platini has insisted that there is no “Plan B” for 2012. Perhaps he should admit the impending failure of his joint-host plan and seek other options lest he face the same embarrassment that Sepp Blatter and FIFA have faced in the preparation for South Africa.


UEFA made an embarassing political call giving it to Poland-Ukraine instead of Italy and they see it more clearly as time progresses. To say the Poland-Ukraine bid was stronger was nothing short of ridiculous.
Juan
If they have to switch venues, then the sooner the better.
Thorisgodpoo
If they need to change the venue, change it NOW so that by 2011 comes around and it's still in Poland-Ukraine (which I prefer it to be there to help out the economic status) and they decide to switch over, I'm going to be quite angry.
magix
Yeah it was a risk giving it to Poland/Ukraine, but aren't Italy on the verge of economic meltdown? I read somewhere that they got hit the hardest in the EU by the economic crisis, wouldn't make much sense switching it to Italy now
JuveJay
Italy doesn't have to improve to the degree that Poland and Ukraine do. I know Italy has had this 'sick man of Europe' tag for a long time and economy stories are often exaggerated internally because of reform problems but it is still the 4th largest economy in Europe (7th in world) and I wouldn't forsee any problems in finding funding. Italy's problem is that two main exports, tourism and manufacturing, are two things that people will cut back on during financial hardship, they are not necessities.

Obviously the same will apply as for Poland/Ukraine, where Europe will be out of the recession by around 2010/2011 but that isn't soon enough in terms of buying materials or paying builders, so money would be needed right now.

I think the main negative about the Italy bid at the time was that Ultra violence was in the spotlight, but the problems in Ukraine and Poland are considerably worse, they just don't make the news.

I wouldn't mind if these countries deserved the right to bid or if someone else with a clean track record comes in and does the job but this choice was political to expand the footballing economies in eastern Europe. Perhaps Poland could team up with Bulgaria instead?
Tobinho
QUOTE(JuveJay @ Mar 17 2009, 07:40 PM) *
Perhaps Poland could team up with Bulgaria instead?


Poland is nowhere near Bulgaria. The Czech Republic seems the only viable option.
JuveJay
I meant Romania, had them the wrong way round in my head. The countries don't have to be bordering anyway. Czech Republic is a better option but it depends who is ready to put that money on the table.
Tobinho
I guess they don't have to be bordering but it seems highly unlikely that UEFA would agree to a pair of non-bordering countries, you'd have to ask a lot of the countries in between to sort out the infrastructure for essentially no gain. Romania must have better stadia but it's still the wrong side of Ukraine. Holding some games in Germany would be sensible since the instrastructure and grounds are already world-class but of course it wouldn't be too popular with the Poles. icon_mrgreen.gif
JuveJay
Korea and Japan didn't border, and Scotland-Wales proposed a bid for the Euros, but had to pull out for financial reasons.
Avon
It would be very good for Italy, whose stadiums haven't seen a lick of paint since 1990
JuveJay
QUOTE
“I am a bit worried about the European Championship but I am still hopeful,” said Platini.

“Still if the stadium in Kiev is not completed, the competition will not take place in Ukraine.”


What a joke. Great choice UEFA.
JuveJay
Cyprus soccer body doubts ex-official's claim of corrupt Euro 2012 hosting vote

By The Associated Press (CP) – 10 hours ago

NYON, Switzerland — The Cypriot Football Association has heaped doubt on its former official who alleges the 2012 European Championship was corruptly awarded to Poland and Ukraine, yet refused UEFA's offer to meet and discuss the case on Wednesday.

The Cyprus FA said Tuesday it knows nothing about accusations made by Spyros Marangos in a German newspaper that UEFA officials sold the tournament rights for 11 million euros (C$15 million) in 2007. The eastern Europe neighbours defeated Italy in a UEFA vote.

UEFA has threatened Marangos with a defamation suit if he does not meet a Wednesday deadline to provide proof, which it said had been requested several times.

The European football authority said late Tuesday that he had "not delivered one single element of evidence."

Marangos, a former CFA board member, "has through his lawyer also refused to meet an official delegation of UEFA (on Wednesday), comprising an independent disciplinary inspector," UEFA said in a statement.

"UEFA reiterates that in the interest of protecting the integrity of European football it is ready and willing to open a relevant disciplinary investigation ... but not on the basis of rumours or allegations that may also be defamatory."

Cyprus's federation said it took "great pleasure" that UEFA would investigate the allegations, if Marangos possessed the evidence he claimed to have.

Officials from Poland and Ukraine have denied the allegations.

Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Drillo
poland-germany then. grin.gif
JuveJay
'How Italy lost Euro 2012 bid'



The former treasurer of the Cypriot FA Spyros Marangos has told La Gazzetta dello Sport that the voting for Euro 2012 was apparently rigged.

Italy's bid received just three votes at a UEFA assembly in Cardiff three years ago, while Poland and the Ukraine got seven.

Marangos alleges that four UEFA members' votes were bought for a total of €9.15m and insists that he has three witnesses and the proof to back up his claims.

“Before April 18 2007, the day of the vote, I noted strange movements,” Marangos told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I knew that Surkis had an objective: to take Euro 2012 at all costs. And I started to inform myself.

“There are three witness. One has followed the movements of the people involved. The others can confirm the sums paid after the vote in Cardiff.”

Asked how many UEFA members were involved in the bribe-taking, Marangos said: “Four.

“One took €3.15m. The three others received €2m a head - a total of €9.15m. I know that in Germany they are talking about a fifth person, but I don't have the proof.”

Marangos then gave an insight into where and how the bribes were paid.

“I can only say that here in Cyprus €3.15m was in a big fluffy teddy bear.”

Asked to reveal what proof he has to back up his allegations, Marangos said: “Three documents. But one is sufficient to open an investigation.

“I am not scared. I want to go all the way. But I am scared for wives, kids, friends, witnesses, lawyers and also for you journalists.”
magix
So Italy lost it because of corruption, ironic laugh.gif
JuveJay
icon_mrgreen.gif

Shit happens at this level of football, whether this is true or not there is too much money in football for us to think everything is decided legitimately.
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