Poland and Ukraine will host the 2012 European Championship finals after seeing off Italy and another joint bid from Hungary and Croatia. It appears to be a huge gamble by UEFA, who had been expected to award the finals to Italy, despite the country’s recent problems with violence and match-fixing.
As it is, Poland and Ukraine will have to show that UEFA’s faith in them is well placed. FIFA had threatened t ban Poland from international competition after its government removed the country’s FA from power in January. The unstable political climate in Ukraine had also raised doubts.
So did UEFA make the right decision? Would it have been better to give the finals to Italy, a country that would have had few problems staging such a big event? Or is UEFA right to offer what should be a huge boost to two of Europe’s less powerful footballing nations?
Tell us what you think.
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6 comments so far
In fairness to Ukraine and Poland, Italy is hardly standly in a good light due to the recent soccer scandal and the one about to emerge.
That said it could backfire on FIFA, espeicially since it’ll come in the wake of the World cup in South Africa, who have had similar doubts raised about them.
- Posted by Piaras KellyIt is a huge gamble, but I think it’s the right decision to expand football in Eastern & Central Europe.
I’m also not sure Italy would have few problems staging the event, given their recent crisis and the fact that Italia ‘90 and Euro ‘80 were hardly shining successes in many ways.
- Posted by TomI applaud the decision. Mind you, it’s obvious that there was a deal done and the decision was helped along by tactical voting. I wonder if Platini encouraged that…
- Posted by jonCongrats to Poland & Ukraine! Good job!
- Posted by agI wish UEFA´d had the guts to reject all three bids and start again. Poland-Ukraine is going to be a crap event, with the potential for loads of violence. And who wants another jointly-hosted tournament?
- Posted by MattTerrible decision. Absolutely terrible.
- Posted by MikeBoth for the fans and for the game itself.