Back in 2007, Hungary and Croatia lost their joint bid to host the Euro 2012 football tournament despite becoming the unexpected frontrunners owing to Italy’s match-fixing scandal and Ukraine being one half of a joint bid with Poland. Although the Poles have certainly met all requirements in advance of the tournament, Ukraine is even more behind schedule in developing its football infrastructure than Budapest’s Metro 4.

Consequently, UEFA chief Michel Platini has threatened to take away the four sites from Ukraine, and move two to Poland and two to Germany or yes, Hungary. Although the report says this is mostly just a threat from Platini to get the Ukrainians back on track, we can’t help but find it amusing should he follow through and Hungary finds itself hosting a match or two in the dilapidated Puskás Stadium, which had Hungary won the bid, would have actually been renovated or replaced. Platini’s decision is expected by the end of June.

Source: Pestiside (http://www.pestiside.hu/20100512/uefa-threatens-to-bring-euro-2012-matches-to-hungary/)

The soccer governing body may move the tournament to Spain if Poland refuses to pay taxes.

The Ministry of Finance wants to renegotiate its agreement with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), exempting it from taxes during the Euro 2012 soccer tournament.

The sports group has said, in return, that it may transfer the championship to a different host country – possibly Spain. Three years ago, the government was not sparing in its promises to UEFA, keeping its eyes only on the right to host the tournament.

Now, however, the Finance Ministry finds itself unwilling to give up on the millions it could gain from the event. The agreement on tax-exemption is already confirmed and cannot be changed.

However, it does not have legal force. It still has to be written in the form of a regulation.

Negotiations are to continue.

Source: Warsaw Business Journal (http://www.wbj.pl/article-49433-uefa-threatens-relocation-of-euro-2012.html?typ=wbj)