Will Poland lose the right to co-host EURO 2012 football championships? The country is facing such risk after an Arbitration Tribunal suspended the management board of the Polish Football Association and named the new administrator of the Association. Both UEFA and FIFA refused to recognize this decision and threatened the country with serious sanctions.
John Beauchamp reports
It all started earlier this week when an Arbitration Tribunal suspended the management board of the Polish Football Association and named Robert Zawlocki as an administrator. The decision was taken on the request of Sports Minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki who said that he had asked the Tribunal to act because of a "lack of effectiveness in the fight against corruption".
Minister Drzewiecki also said the suspension of the Polish Association board will not affect preparations for the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland: 'The information received by FIFA and UEFA came probably from the Polish Football Association and showed that we are attempting a coup on the Association while the truth is that we are only and exclusively trying to sort out the legal mess in order for this institution during the upcoming elections to be governed in accordance with the rules and regulations.'
As expected, UEFA and FIFA responded by saying that they do not recognize the new administrator introduced by an Arbitration Tribunal to the Polish Football Association, after its management board was suspended. A spokesman for UEFA also said that if Poland does not reverse its decision sanctions will be imposed, one of them being the possibility of taking away Poland's right to co-host the Euro 2012 football championships alongside Ukraine. Pekka Odriozola, the spokesman of FIFA explains: 'FIFA and UEFA continue to recognize the current leadership of the Polish Football Association chaired by Michal Listkiewicz as the only legitimate authority to run football in Poland and to represent it internationally.'
Polish football has been plagued by corruption in recent years and this is not the first attempt to oust the Polish Football Association leadership. Last year the previous administration tried to do so but the then sports minister, Tomasz Lipiec was forced to back down and reinstate the board after criticism and threat of sanctions from FIFA.
Speaking for Polish Radio Poland's legendary footballer Zbigniew Boniek said that the conflict between football authorities and sports minister is badly timed but expressed hope that a solution will be found soon: 'For me personally the introduction of Mr. Zawłocki as an administrator is slightly incomprehensible but I think that is no reason to make a fuss about it because with a good will of both sports minister and the Polish Football Association the whole issue will be resolved within the next day or two.'
The suspended board of Poland's Football Association, meanwhile, continues working. It spokesman announced that on October 30 its delegates will vote for the new president. Zbigniew Boniek, Tomasz Jagodziński, Zdzisław Kręcina and Grzegorz Lato have been announced as four candidates to replace Michał Listkiewicz.
Piotr Wierzbicki from the sports desk of Polska daily says that although the threats of international football governing bodies, although serious do not have to be taken seriously: 'The threats from UEFA and FIFA sounds very serious but we did go thru this before and it ended up that EURO 2012 and qualifications is gonna go on in our country and I hope that it will end like the last time. I am just surprised by position of FIFA and UEFA because I've heard that before sending the letter to Polish Federation they didn't' even read the statement from Poland's sport tribunal. I think both sides must find a compromise and I hope that is what is going to happen.'
Representatives of the sports ministry are travelling for talks with UEFA officials in Switzerland next week.