Ukraine face tough timetable, says official

Ukraine are under pressure to speed up preparations for the 2012 European Championships ahead of a UEFA executive board meeting in June, the head of the co-hosts' soccer federation said yesterday.

A timetable for improvements and financing is due by May 5 with UEFA's executive committee next scheduled to meet on June 27, Grigory Surkis told a meeting of senior officials in the western city of Lviv.

"Even with all my cautious optimism, I would not like to predict the consequences at a meeting if everything here at home remains as it is now," Ukrainian media quoted Surkis as saying at the meeting, attended by President Viktor Yushchenko.

UEFA president Michel Platini, who criticised the slow pace of preparations in January, plans to visit Ukraine and co-hosts Poland in July after Euro 2008, Surkis added.

The former Soviet state must resolve problems over the construction or upgrade of stadiums, accommodation, airport, rail and road transport, he also said.