Fifa drop Poland ban threat

Blatter happy with talks between PZPN and government

Last updated: 6th October 2008

Sepp Blatter

Blatter: Poland threat lifted

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Fifa have dropped their threat of banning Poland from all competitions after an agreement was reached with the country's government.

Poland were warned they faced the threat of suspension from World Cup qualifying and also the loss of their co-hosting rights for Euro 2012 following the suspension of the Polish FA (PZPN) by the government.

The PZPN were suspended last week and replaced by a government-appointed administrator after sports minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki filed a motion stating they had broken a number of laws.

Fifa and Uefa rules do not allow government interference with sporting associations and set a deadline on Monday for the PZPN to be reinstated.

Intervene

But last-ditch talks between the parties progressed to such an extent that Fifa president Sepp Blatter was ready to lift the threat of a ban, with an independent commission due to to replace the administrative board.

Blatter said: "I'm happy to announce that there is no longer any problem concerning Poland's next two qualifying matches for the World Cup.

"I'm sorry we had to intervene in Poland, which is a major footballing country.

"This problem saddened me, but now I'm happy to announce that a solution has been found: an independent commission will start working again on Tuesday and the administrative board will stand down."

Poland are due to play Czech Republic on 11th October and Slovakia four days later in their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Euro 2012

And Uefa confirmed Poland's co-hosting rights for the next European Championships are no longer under immediate threat, although the situation has caused some damage.

William Gaillard, special adviser to UEFA president Michel Platini, said: "We will, like FIFA, be monitoring the situation.

"There is no immediate threat to their hosting of Euro 2012. However a lot of trust has been lost and we need to see if they stick to their side of the agreement this time around."