Uefa backing for Ukraine's 2012 venues

Ukrainian Family, Youth and Sports Minister Ravil Safiullin fuelled fears over the weekend by admitting that stadium construction work in Kiev, earmarked to stage the final of the tournament, is five months behind schedule.

But a Uefa spokesperson said yesterday that Safiullin had been "really pessimistic" and organisers were still working towards an even split of the eight designated competition venues across co-hosts Ukraine and Poland.

However, he admitted hurdles need to be overcome in Wroclaw and Lviv in Ukraine.

"There are absolutely no plans to drop any of the cities, but it is true that we have some delays in Vrotslav (Wroclaw] and Lviv," the spokesperson said.

"We are not really worried about Vrotslav.

"Things need to move a bit quicker in Lviv because they also have had some trouble with the financing."

The spokesperson also stressed there are no plans to move the Euro 2012 final away from Kiev, although Uefa is sending specialists to look at the progress being made in the city today.