Soccer:Uefa insist they will only open an investigation into claims of corruption surrounding the appointment of Poland and Ukraine as Euro 2012 hosts if evidence is produced.
Spiros Marangos, treasurer of the Cyprus Football Association, made the allegations in German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.Uefa said today the claims are unsubstantiated and called for proof to be produced by Wednesday.
The allegations are the latest claims to rock the world of football following the Sunday Timesexpose of two Fifa executive committee members who asked for money in return for World Cup votes.
"In relation to this as yet unsubstantiated claim Uefa wishes to state that, as always, it can only open an investigation on the basis of tangible elements of proof," a Uefa statement explained.
"To date these have never been provided to Uefa by this individual prior to any meeting and this in spite of repeated requests by Europe's governing football body. Uefa has therefore today, via its legal counsel, again requested the said individual to submit to Uefa any evidence that according to him should confirm his allegations, by Wednesday October 27th at the latest."
The governing body added that disciplinary proceedings would be opened if there was tangible proof while legal action would be considered against the individual if evidence was not forthcoming.
The European body added: “If no such evidence is submitted within the time frame, Uefa reserves its right to start legal proceedings, civil and criminal, against any individual or individuals making such defamatory statements.
"The fight against corruption is taken very seriously by Uefa which has taken, and continues to take, all necessary steps to sanction and eradicate it, but Uefa aims equally to protect integrity and truth by taking action based on facts and evidence alone.”
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Borys Kolesnikov, in charge of the country's planning for Euro 2012, denied wrongdoing.
"These allegations are three years old. If they were at least partly true we wouldn't have any championship," he said.
Polish officials were even more forthright.
"This is just slander, it's not even worth talking about," said Polish Sports Ministry spokesman Jakub Kwiatkowski. "We are not treating it seriously, as there is no proof presented. By this logic anyone could walk around talking whatever, that's nonsense."
A spokeswoman for Poland's FA said it would be contacting Uefa to request clarification over "groundless" accusations and reserved the right to take legal action.