[arivanjj]

Italy have lost out in the race to host Euro 2012 to Poland and Ukraine, announced UEFA President Michel Platini in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Italy were short-listed for the event along with the joint bids from Poland-Ukraine and Croatia-Hungary and were considered as the favourites to land the tournament.

However, UEFA’s executive committee took the shock step this morning after taking into account the candidates’ final presentations.

Vital criteria for the decision included stadiums, transport, infrastructures, accommodation and security.

The executive committee voted by secret ballot with the Italian and Ukrainian representatives – Franco Carraro and Grigoriy Surkis – not eligible to vote.

The bidding process started in 2004 and the final decision was initially scheduled for December 2006, but was postponed to give the candidates the opportunity to fine-tune their bids.

Poland and Ukraine will stage matches in four venues apiece. Neither country has previously hosted a major finals tournament although both have strong footballing traditions.

The previous European Championship hosts since it became a final tournament have been: Italy (1980), France (1984), West Germany (1988), Sweden (1992), England (1996), Belgium/Netherlands (2000) and Portugal (2004).

Next year’s Finals will take place in Austria and Switzerland from June 7 to 29.


Channel4