Exclusive: Scotland is in line to host the European football championships in 2012 if joint hosts Poland and the Ukraine fail to meet Uefa�s criteria.

Scotland is in line to host the European football championships in 2012 if joint hosts Poland and the Ukraine fail to meet Uefa's criteria.

It is understood that Uefa has serious concerns over the ability of the two former Eastern bloc nations to stage the event, particularly in terms of transport links and accommodation. Five of the eight venues in Poland and Ukraine are still not ready.

A Uefa spokesman said there were no plans at present to move the tournament elsewhere.

However, sources within European football's governing body admitted that Scotland had an excellent reputation for handling major Uefa events, pointing to the success of the 2002 European Cup final and the Uefa Cup Final in 2007, both of which Hampden Park hosted.

It is not the first time that Scotland has been a contender to host the Euro finals by default.

In an exclusive interview with The Herald, Christophe Bosshardt, head of project organisation for Euro2008, has revealed that, at one point, Uefa threatened Swiss authorities that this year's tournament would be taken from them and given to Scotland if they did not move quickly to meet the criteria for hosting the event.

Mr Bosshardt said the warning was issued at a time when Switzerland was struggling to force planning issues through its complicated federal political system.

He added that the political system in Scotland, with a central government making the key decisions, would help the nation in its efforts to stage a European tournament.

Last year the Scottish Football Association held talks with the Scottish government after First Minister Alex Salmond said there was "absolutely no reason" why the country should not make a solo bid to host the 2016 European Championships Plans to launch a solo Scottish bid to host this year's event fell through and a joint bid with the Republic of Ireland ended in failure when Uefa chose Austria and Switzerland.

Scotland has four international standard stadiums - Hampden, Ibrox, Celtic Park and Murrayfield - and would need another four in order to submit a solo bid.

However, the fact that Scotland is being seriously considered as an alternative will bode well for the nation if it bids for Euro2016.