Soccer-Ukraine Seeks Court Order To Resolve Euro Stadium Dispute

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine's prosecutor general is seeking a court order to tear down a semi-built shopping centre next to the capital's Olympic stadium, which is due to host the Euro 2012 final, his office said on Thursday.

Olympic Plaza scale model
European soccer's governing body UEFA says the shopping centre makes it unsafe to use all 80,000 seats at the stadium because it blocks some exits. A decree from President Viktor Yushchenko has already demanded a halt to construction.

"Given that the construction breaks the law and building regulations, is dangerous for spectators, threatens the Olympic Stadium's operations and makes it impossible to host the Euro 2012 final, the general prosecutor has undertaken to oblige the (company building it) to dismantle it," a statement said.

UEFA President Michel Platini has already said the 2012 European Championship final cannot be held at the Kiev stadium unless the construction issue is resolved.

Capacity at the stadium, used by the national team and Dynamo Kiev for big matches such as the Champions League, has already been halved after UEFA's verdict on safety.

Poland and Ukraine, both ex-communist states, were chosen last year to co-host Euro 2012 and face a huge task to prepare top-level stadiums, build hotels and modernise infrastructure.

Source: Guardian