Zurich - Football's governing body FIFA on Monday said that
Poland's two World Cup qualifiers this weekend and next Wednesday
will go ahead after they had reached an agreement with Polish sports
officials.
FIFA had earlier given Polish officials a deadline of noon Monday
to reinstate football federation (PZPN) officials suspended by a
temporary administrator of the federation who had been put in place
by Poland's national Olympic committee.
In a statement released in Zurich, FIFA said that they had
received a letter from the Ministry of Sport and the football
federation, which they were satisfied showed 'a positive evolution in
the situation of the PZPN.'
'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.'
FIFA said that the Polish sports ministry would ask the country's
Olympic committee to withdraw the temporary administrator of the PZPN.
'This positive evolution will allow the two 2010 World Cup
qualifying matches against Czech Republic and Slovakia scheduled for
11 and 15 October respectively, to take place.'
The organization however warned, that they would continue looking
at the situation.
'FIFA will continue to closely monitor the situation at the Polish
FA and the implementation of the measures established in the
roadmap,' the statement said.
'The matter will be analysed and discussed once more at the next
FIFA Executive Committee meeting on 23-24 October.'
Earlier Monday a PZPN spokesman said that they had communicated
with the sports ministry. 'We exchanged documents with the Sports
Ministry on a proposal to end the conflict surrounding the Polish
football federation,' Zbigniew Kozminski said.
'They've also been translated into English and sent to FIFA.'
Poland faced the prospect of sanctions - including being stripped
of co-hosting the Euro 2012 football championship - if it did not bow
to FIFA's demand to reinstate the leadership.
The suspension of the PZPN officials followed a motion from the
sports ministry, which wants to clamp down on corruption in Polish
football.
Polish football has been plagued by corruption in recent years,
with more than 20 clubs, referees, federations, club officials and
players allegedly involved in match fixing.
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