UEFA warned Ukraine on Friday it could be stripped of hosting rights for the 2012 European Championship if politicians and officials try to unseat football federation leader Grygoriy Surkis.
UEFA has joined FIFA in giving Ukraine one week to stop interfering in the federation's affairs or face suspension from world football.
The ultimatum was issued after a two-day meeting of UEFA's executive committee, of which Surkis has been a member since 2004.
''It was the unanimous view that it will not be tenable to play the final round in Ukraine (if suspended),'' UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said.
Ukraine is scheduled to co-host the 16-nation tournament with Poland from June 8 to July 1. The final is intended to be played in Kiev.
Surkis has been Ukrainian federation president since 2000 and his third mandate runs through next year. He is standing for re-election to his UEFA role in March.
Surkis was a key figure in helping the Eastern European neighbors win Euro 2012 hosting rights by defeating favored Italy in a poll of UEFA's ruling panel.
The 61-year-old industrialist is a former president of Ukraine's biggest club, Dynamo Kiev, and some football officials believe his influence ensures it gets special treatment. His brother, Ihor, has been club president since 2002.
FIFA intervened this month after being asked to allow a no-confidence motion protesting Surkis' rule.
Football's world governing body judged that football officials were pressured to act by politicians, in violation of FIFA statutes which protect football from government interference.
Infantino said he was confident the problems will be resolved in the next week.
UEFA's support for Ukraine has been repeatedly tested since the country was named as co-host of Euro 2012 in April 2007.
Ukraine has barely met several deadlines to prove it has the finance and ability to build the stadiums, hotels, transport and other infrastructure required for the event which funds many of UEFA's development programs. Euro 2008, played in Austria and Switzerland, generated around $400 million (then ?250 million) in profit for UEFA.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Friday he was ''fully convinced we will be ready on time'' for the championship.
He spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, alongside Bronislaw Komorowski, the president of Poland. Komorowski said it would be easier for his country to be ready because Poland is a member of the European Union.
As a precaution against Ukraine's uncertain football status, UEFA acted Friday to ensure it does not disrupt the qualifying draw for the 2013 Under-21 European Championship on Thursday.
Infantino said Ukraine will be drawn in a group of six nations, rather than five, so its team can be removed if required.
Bosnia-Herzegovina also will be drawn in a six-team group because it is facing a FIFA suspension. Bosnia's federation must meet a March 31 deadline to streamline its ethnically governed tripartite leadership.
UEFA's executive committee awarded Israel hosting rights to the eight-nation 2013 tournament on Thursday.
