Polish stadium delay sparks worries ahead of Euro 2012

By Dominika Maslikowski Feb 18, 2012, 9:51 GMT

Warsaw - Delays at Warsaw's National Stadium have sparked worries in Poland months before the Euro 2012, and renewed fears that critical infrastructure will not be ready in time for the June 8 opening game.

Critics have pointed the finger at newly-appointed Sports Minister Joanna Mucha, who they say lacks the experience needed to organize one of the world's most competitive, prestigious and widely watched tournaments.

Tensions reached boiling point when officials cancelled a Polish Super Cup match last week amid safety concerns. Police worried there was not enough fencing to separate fans of opposing teams.

The stadium, which had its opening ceremony last month, is a key venue in Euro 2012 and is set to host the opening game.

Rafal Kapler, head of the sports centre responsible for building the stadium, resigned on Monday after he faced increasing backlash for delays in getting the venue ready.

Mucha later suspended Kapler's 180,000-dollar bonus after criticism that he had not deserved the extra money. The stadium had been scheduled to open in July, but suffered an array of construction delays.

Poland and co-hosts Ukraine have both experienced delays in building roads, stadiums and other infrastructure needed for the tournament.

Now the February 29 friendly between Poland and Portugal in Warsaw has also come under doubt.

Polish national coach Franciszek Smuda said Wednesday that he 'wanted to finally play' at the National Stadium, but that the friendly could be held in Wroclaw, western Poland if needed.

'Miss Mucha is a ... pretty woman,' Smuda said of the minister, regarded as one of the most fashionable figures in government.

'When it comes to the ministry, she will surely do everything to bring things under control.'

The opposition says the stadium delays will force Prime Minister Donald Tusk to re-shuffle his cabinet or dismiss Mucha.

Tusk will meet with each of his ministers next week to asses their progress since the victory of his Civic Platform party in October's parliamentary elections. The party has recently fallen in the polls after their proposal to raise the retirement age to 67 for men and women.

Mucha has come under the fiercest attacks: for the delays at the stadium, but also for her ignorance of sports and for Kapler's bonus, considered outlandishly high by critics.

'No minister can feel safe,' said government spokesman Pawel Gras.

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