Greece confident of Euro 2012 bid

GREECE is confident its bid to host the 2012 European soccer championship will make UEFA's shortlist in November despite a warning from FIFA to amend existing sports laws or face possible sanctions.

FIFA, world soccer's governing body, is upset that the Greek Football Association appears to have lost some of its control and autonomy to the government since sports minister George Orfanos introduced a new sports law a year ago.

FIFA insists domestic FAs are solely responsible for the game and will often suspend countries from all international football activity if it believes its statutes are being contravened.

Greece is one of five candidates hoping to host the 2012 championship.

UEFA, the European soccer body, that organises the tournament have received single bids from Greece, Italy and Turkey and joint bids from Croatia-Hungary and Poland-Ukraine.

'Our bid is proceeding very well and we have submitted an excellent file,' Orfanos said last week.

'The information coming from UEFA is positive and we will take the necessary next steps when the shortlist of three is announced,' he added.

Despite Orfanos's optimism, Greece was admonished at the FIFA Congress in Marrakesh earlier this month when FIFA president Sepp Blatter warned that Greece must amend domestic sports laws which, FIFA claim, currently contravene their international statutes.