TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — UEFA President Michel Platini has given his full support to Poland and Ukraine as they prepare to host the Euro 2012 championship, while urging both countries to step up their preparations after a series of setbacks.
Platini told the annual UEFA Ordinary Congress in Tel Aviv on Thursday that Euro 2012 organizers have had to face “many difficulties” since the two Eastern European countries were chosen as co-hosts, but said UEFA stood its decision to award them the tournament.
Construction of new stadiums for the tournament have hit repeated delays.
Platini confirmed that the profits generated by Euro 2012 are unlikely to match those from the 2008 European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, but the 53 UEFA soccer associations will receive the same solidarity payments as in the current cycle.
