FIFA threaten to get tough with Poland

World governing body FIFA on Wednesday threatened “dire consequences” in their continuing standoff with the Polish government.

“Polish football could face dire consequences should Polish Minister of Sport Tomasz Lipiec not reverse his decision to appoint a commissioner to head the Polish Football Association,” read a statement after a FIFA Associations Committee meeting in Zurich.

“Such non-compliance with FIFA principles would prevent the Polish FA from establishing an executive board in line with the new statutes ratified by its general assembly on Jan 7, thus risking a suspension of the federation and all of its members from all international contact.”

Lipiec suspended the Polish Football Association board on Jan 19 and appointed a temporary commissioner, saying the board could not continue in place in the midst of a corruption scandal.

As many as 70 referees, club bosses and FA officials have been detained by prosecutors after a two-year investigation into allegations of bribery and match-fixing in the Polish game.

FIFA consistently reject any interference by politicians in national associations’ affairs.

In a separate issue, Wednesday’s FIFA meeting also decided that the ban on Kenya, suspended from international competition last October, would stand for the foreseeable future if the Ministry of Sport did not clearly commit to fully respect FIFA rules by Feb 28.

The meeting also decided to recommend to the Executive Committee that the Montenegro FA be put forward as FIFA’s potential 208th member at the FIFA Congress in May 2007.

Source:thestar.com.my