Blatter voices support for Ukraine-Poland bid

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed a joint bid from Ukraine and Poland to host the 2012 European Championship.

"I hope that the Euro championship will be held in Ukraine," Blatter told a news conference in Kiev yesterday.

The joint bid is one of three being considered by UEFA along with a solo bid from Italy and a joint bid from Croatia and Hungary.

"I know that both Ukraine and Poland have done a lot to merit staging the championship. Of course, it's up to the UEFA executive committee to make a decision," Blatter added.

Blatter also met Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko, who awarded the FIFA chief a national medal for his service to the sport.

The Ukraine-Poland bid has been undermined by a row between FIFA and the Polish government. FIFA threatened Poland with a worldwide ban after the country's sports minister suspended the board of the Polish FA, but the government later agreed to FIFA's demand that it be reinstated.

UEFA will announce the winning bid next month.