UEFA take legal action over claims

UEFA have announced they will initiate legal proceedings against the former Cyprus Football Federation official who has claimed to have evidence of corruption surrounding the appointment of Poland and Ukraine as Euro 2012 hosts.

By The Newsroom

Published 27th Oct 2010, 10:17 BST

Spyros Marangos, who left the CFA in 2007, made the allegations in German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

UEFA said the claims were unsubstantiated and demanded Marangos provide evidence to support his allegations.

According to UEFA, Marangos is yet to provide them with those details and has refused to attend a meeting arranged for today.

As a result the governing body have released a statement stating they will pursue legal action to "protect the integrity of European football".

The statement read: "UEFA reiterates that in the interest of protecting the integrity of European football it is ready and willing to open a relevant disciplinary investigation, on the basis of any element of proof that would justify doing so, but not on the basis of rumours or allegations that may also be defamatory.

"UEFA therefore has no option now but to open legal proceedings against Mr Marangos."