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Poland and Ukraine to co-host Euro 2012
FIFA & UEFA - 19 April, 2007
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Poland and Ukraine will co-host soccer's 2012 European Championship, the first time the former Eastern bloc hosted the continental championship since Yugoslavia in 1976.
UEFA overlooked the favorite Italy and a joint bid from Croatia and Hungary on Wednesday. UEFA president Michel Platini announced the winner at Cardiff City Hall after a private meeting of 12 members of the executive committee.
"It will be a milestone in the common history of two Slavic nations," Poland soccer federation president Michal Listkiewicz said.
Poland and Ukraine won the right to host the tournament in the first round of balloting, collecting eight votes to Italy's four. The Croatia-Hungary bid failed to win a single vote.
Italy would have been a safe choice, given its world-class stadiums and infrastructure. But in the last year, Italian soccer has been tainted by a match-fixing scandal and hooliganism.
"Within five years we will build a new country and we won't have a better opportunity to do so," Ukraine soccer federation president Hrihoriy Surkis said. None of the 12 proposed venues for the event are completed.
Chelsea's Ukrainian striker, Andriy Shevchenko, and Liverpool's Polish goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek, supported the bid at a presentation from the two former Communist countries.
Ukraine's ex-world heavyweight boxing champion, Vitali Klitschko, and former Olympic pole vault champion, Sergei Bubka, were in Cardiff for the vote, along with Ukraine President Victor Yushchenko.
"I'm happy they trusted us," Bubka said. "I don't see any problems, everything will be done in time. We need this and this decision will accelerate the development of infrastructure in our countries."
Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kiev and Lviv in Ukraine and Gdansk, Krakow, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Chorzow in Poland have been lined up as host cities for Euro 2012.
"It is a wonderful opportunity for Ukrainians and Poles to give soccer fans from around the world an extraordinary sporting event," said Yushchenko, who assisted with the final presentation Tuesday.
The bid by Poland and Ukraine had to overcome some problems.
Poland's national team avoided suspension after FIFA said the federation had done little to stop corruption, and a match-fixing scandal in the domestic leagues that led to about 70 people being arrested.
Concerns still remain about the shortage of high-quality hotels and poor transport infrastructure in both Poland and Ukraine.
In Italy, a widescale match-fixing scandal in Serie A last year was followed by the death of a policeman when soccer fans rioted in Catania.
"The scandal was an embarrassment for world soccer," Italian delegation member Luigi Riva said.
Italy sports minister Giovanna Melandri insisted these problems didn't cost her country the vote.
"It's a decision to enlarge the European football family," Melandri said.
UEFA overlooked the favorite Italy and a joint bid from Croatia and Hungary on Wednesday. UEFA president Michel Platini announced the winner at Cardiff City Hall after a private meeting of 12 members of the executive committee.
"It will be a milestone in the common history of two Slavic nations," Poland soccer federation president Michal Listkiewicz said.
Poland and Ukraine won the right to host the tournament in the first round of balloting, collecting eight votes to Italy's four. The Croatia-Hungary bid failed to win a single vote.
Italy would have been a safe choice, given its world-class stadiums and infrastructure. But in the last year, Italian soccer has been tainted by a match-fixing scandal and hooliganism.
"Within five years we will build a new country and we won't have a better opportunity to do so," Ukraine soccer federation president Hrihoriy Surkis said. None of the 12 proposed venues for the event are completed.
Chelsea's Ukrainian striker, Andriy Shevchenko, and Liverpool's Polish goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek, supported the bid at a presentation from the two former Communist countries.
Ukraine's ex-world heavyweight boxing champion, Vitali Klitschko, and former Olympic pole vault champion, Sergei Bubka, were in Cardiff for the vote, along with Ukraine President Victor Yushchenko.
"I'm happy they trusted us," Bubka said. "I don't see any problems, everything will be done in time. We need this and this decision will accelerate the development of infrastructure in our countries."
Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kiev and Lviv in Ukraine and Gdansk, Krakow, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Chorzow in Poland have been lined up as host cities for Euro 2012.
"It is a wonderful opportunity for Ukrainians and Poles to give soccer fans from around the world an extraordinary sporting event," said Yushchenko, who assisted with the final presentation Tuesday.
The bid by Poland and Ukraine had to overcome some problems.
Poland's national team avoided suspension after FIFA said the federation had done little to stop corruption, and a match-fixing scandal in the domestic leagues that led to about 70 people being arrested.
Concerns still remain about the shortage of high-quality hotels and poor transport infrastructure in both Poland and Ukraine.
In Italy, a widescale match-fixing scandal in Serie A last year was followed by the death of a policeman when soccer fans rioted in Catania.
"The scandal was an embarrassment for world soccer," Italian delegation member Luigi Riva said.
Italy sports minister Giovanna Melandri insisted these problems didn't cost her country the vote.
"It's a decision to enlarge the European football family," Melandri said.
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