UEFA warned yesterday that Ukraine’s role as joint host of the Euro 2012 finals was in jeopardy as a dispute emerged over government interference in the running of Ukrainian soccer.
The executive committee of European soccer’s governing body wrote to Ukraine to warn it of the threat of suspension from European soccer unless it received a satisfactory response by Feb. 4, secretary general Gianni Infantino said.
“If the FFU [Ukrainian federation] is suspended from membership of UEFA, it was the unanimous view of the executive committee that it would not be tenable to play the final round of the UEFA European football championship in Ukraine in 2012,” the letter said.
Ukraine is due to co-host the competition with Poland.
A suspension would sideline Ukrainian clubs and the national side from European competitions.
UEFA’s move followed a similar one by world soccer’s governing body FIFA.
“Essentially it’s about political interference in the running of Ukrainian football,” Infantino explained after a regular meeting of UEFA’s executive committee.
“We have written a letter to the football federation of Ukraine requesting the necessary steps are taken. They will have to conform by February 4,” he told journalists.
“If nothing has changed then the emergency committee will have to meet to decide a suspension, or something else but we are confident we can find a solution,” he said.
Europe’s top international tournament is due to begin in Warsaw on June 8 next year and end with the final in Kiev on July 1.
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