"Bandits and Crooks" Hike Ukraine's Euro 2012 Hotel Prices, Warns Platini
April 12, 2012
UEFA president Michel Platini (Getty Images)
(WFI) UEFA president Michel Platini warns that “bandits and crooks” are jeopardizing Ukraine’s preparations for Euro 2012 by hiking hotel rates through the roof, according to an AFP report.
"It's annoying to have made a lot of investment and then say to people that they can't come because there are bandits and crooks who want to make a lot of money," he said Thursday during a visit to Lviv, one of four Ukrainian cities co-hosting the championship with Poland.
"You can't change (the price of a room) from 40 euros to 100 and then up to 500 just like that from one day to the other, this just is not done.”
An estimated 1.4 million fans are expected to attend the tournament’s 31 matches, but Platini said some are finding their contracts with Ukrainian hotels breached well before the June 8 kickoff.
"I hope for your sake (Ukraine) that the contracts which hoteliers have made will be respected as otherwise the people are not going to come," he was quoted by AFP.
"We promote Ukraine, we say 'it's great, you (Ukrainians) are kind, remarkable and sweet people and the atmosphere is going to be great'. But they are not going to be able to come as it is too expensive."
Platini was in Lviv to open a new airport terminal alongside Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich, who ordered authorities earlier this month to probe the alleged price hikes.
"We will be preparing to the last night and will welcome (guests and participants) the way it should be done," he added Thursday in a statement.
By INSIDER's Matthew Grayson
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