UEFA boss: Euro 2012 will generate lower revenue

UEFA president Michel Platini said Wednesday that the 2012 European Championship would likely generate lower revenues than last year's edition of the tournament.

• The European soccer body awarded Poland and Ukraine the rights to stage the tournament in April 2007, despite concerns they would not be able to build the necessary roads, airports, stadiums and hotels.
• The situation at the organizational level was “not easy” for either Poland, Ukraine or UEFA, Platini said as he opened the annual UEFA Congress.
• “These two countries, Poland and Ukraine, are working hard,” Platini said. “UEFA too makes all necessary efforts to move forward. And we are moving.
• “However, the benefits linked to the organization of Euro 2012 will probably not be the same as the exceptional (ones) of Euro 2008,” Platini said.
• The tournament hosted by Austria and Switzerland in 2008 earned UEFA $2 billion in television and marketing money.
• After initial struggles, both 2012 co-hosts put their preparations back on track late last year, before Ukraine was hit hard by the world financial crisis which renewed concerns over Kiev’s ability to make the massive infrastructure upgrades.
• Last week, the head of the Polish Soccer Federation said he had no doubt that Ukraine would be able to co-host the 2012 European Championship with Poland.