Poland settle differences with Fifa

Poland are not yet assured of co-hosting Euro 2012 despite avoiding immediate Fifa sanctions over the suspension of their football…

Poland are not yet assured of co-hosting Euro 2012 despite avoiding immediate Fifa sanctions over the suspension of their football association.

A deal was agreed today between the Polish government and the national ruling body, the PZPN, which satisfied Fifa sufficiently to allow their two upcoming World Cup qualifiers to go ahead.

However, world football's governing body confirmed they would continue to monitor the situation and reassess at their executive committee meeting on October 23rd-24th.

The PZPN were suspended by the country's sports ministry seven days ago for allegedly failing to address corruption issues.

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The Polish Olympic Committee's arbitration court allegedly found irregularities in the functioning of the PZPN during an audit, with Robert Zawlocki named temporary chief of the federation at the request of Miroslaw Drzewiecki, the minister for sport and tourism.

But Uefa and Fifa later announced they would not recognise the administrator, as they take a firm line that there should be no political interference in national associations.

The two governing bodies warned the Polish authorities the country's two World Cup qualifiers would be forfeited unless the government reinstates the football association by October 6th.

While that condition was not met, Fifa said they were satisfied with the progress made and that the Polish government would relinquish their control by tomorrow.

A statement from the governing body today read: "Fifa has today received an exchange of communications between the Polish sports ministry and the PZPN, which indicates a positive evolution in the situation of the PZPN.

"The letters were received within the deadline established by Fifa last Wednesday.

"The sports ministry has agreed to adhere to the main principles of the roadmap that had been agreed by the Polish government, Fifa and Uefa in 2007, with the re-activation of the Independent Electoral Committee (ICE) composed of state authorities and representatives of Fifa and Uefa in order to ensure that the correct procedures are followed in the upcoming elections to the PZPN.

"At the same time, the Polish sports ministry has declared that as soon as the ICE has begun its work, at the latest early tomorrow (October 7th, 2008), the Polish National Olympic Committee will be asked to withdraw the temporary administrator of the PZPN.

"This positive evolution will allow the two 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches Poland v Czech Republic and Slovakia v Poland, scheduled for October 11th and 15th respectively, to take place.

"However, Fifa will continue to closely monitor the situation at the Polish FA and the implementation of the measures established in the roadmap. The matter will be analysed and discussed once more at the next FIFA executive committee meeting on October 23rd-24th."

Earlier today, PZPN chairman Michal Listkiewicz had expressed his satisfaction with the deal, saying: "It's a very good proposal, which allows everyone to keep their heads held high. The proposal does not contain any elements of pressure."