Widespread corruption in Portugal would make it easy for extremist groups to place a bomb in one of the 10 stadia which will host Euro 2004 matches next month, the man who will run one of the world's largest sporting events claimed on Saturday.

Martin Kallen, chief operating officer for Euro 2004, said that after speaking with police they were of the opinion that corruption in Portugal made the country vulnerable to potential terrorist attacks during the three-week championships starting on June 12.

"In Portugal it's easy to place a bomb in a stadium because you can always find a corrupt person," Kallen told Portuguese weekly Expresso.

Kallen said that the main concern would be to secure the parking areas in all European championship stadia.

"All cars will be inspected, including that of the prime minister," said Kallen. "Fans will have to arrive three hours before a match begins or else they will not be able to park their cars."

Kallen added underground parking at stadia would be restricted to VIPS and would "remain practically empty" during the 31 matches of the football finals.

His comments angered Portuguese government officials who demanded an apology from the UEFA official.

"These are comments which leave us astounded and indignant," said the chairman of the parliamentary committee overseeing Euro 2004, Laurentino Dias.

"I hope Mr. Martin Kallen denies that he made these statements or, if he confirms them, that he apologise to the thousands of Portuguese who have worked on Euro 2004," he told private radio TSF.

Kallen worked for European governing body UEFA on logistics at Euro 96 in England and was in charge of marketing in the Netherlands and Belgium four years later.

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