Ukraine ‘nearly lost’ Euro 2012

Tuesday, 06/12/2011

President Michel Platini has admitted that UEFA nearly took the finals of Euro 2012 away from the Ukraine.

He has revealed that a lack of support from the country’s government could have led to the joint hosts losing the tournament.

“Not from Poland because it was a better economic condition than Ukraine,” he admitted.

“Sometimes we came back to the executive committee to discuss Ukraine. We didn't feel the strong support of the government at this moment because there were some political problems in Ukraine and we thought perhaps to change,” he revealed.

In an intereview on CNN World Sport Platini added: “But in the end they gave us guarantees, the government changed...the new president and his team made a big effort to build the stadiums, to build the roads, to build the airport.

“Now the success is very nice. I'm sure that the fans will be happy to see some games in the beautiful atmosphere in Ukraine and Poland.”

The revelation comes after suggestions that England’s training camp is a total mess and warnings about football thugs targeting visiting fans.

Platini added: “We have a politic of tolerance zero about racism and we will fight with that.”

Platini’s comments are at odds with FIFA president Sepp Blatter who recently claimed there was no racisim on the pitch.

“I think that Mr. Blatter was really clumsy about that,” said Platini. “Mr. Blatter, we have to be clear, is not a racist.”

* Michel Platini was interviewed on CNN/CNN WORLD SPORT. Watch the full interview  by clicking here

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