UEFA boss hints 2008 bids in trouble

Seven bids are being considered by UEFA, whose executive committee will make their decision on December 12.

Johansson was asked in an interview with Swiss-French newspaper Le Dimanche whether the incidents surrounding the match between Fenerbahce and Panathinaikos could have negatively affected the joint candidature of Greece and Turkey.

Ireland’s joint bid with Scotland has been dogged by the refusal of the Athletic Association (GAA) to allow their Croke Park stadium to be used for soccer. Under their rules it can only be used for Athletics games.

Johansson seemed positive about the joint bid from Austria and Switzerland.

"It is a candidature that makes sense," he said.

"Switzerland is building new stadiums and possesses long- lasting assets such as financial and political stability, its communication network, its accommodation capabilities and its security. Switzerland’s chances are therefore very realistic."

But he denied that the Austrian-Swiss bid was, along with a joint bid from the Nordic countries of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, the favourite.

"If you say that, you know more than I do," he said.

He also said that if the Nordic bid was successful, the four Nordic teams would not qualify automatically for the finals as has happened in the past with host nations.

"The organising countries would have to qualify by performing on the pitch. The selection mode has not yet been determined, but they will probably play a little tournament of four to evaluate the two automatic qualifiers."

The seven candidates to host the 2008 finals comprise solo bids from Russia and Hungary and joint bids from Ireland-Scotland, Greece-Turkey, Bosnia-Croatia, Austria-Switzerland and the Nordic nations. The 2004 finals are in Portugal