WARSAW, Poland (AP) - The governing bodies of world and European soccer will not recognize the new administrator of the troubled Polish soccer federation, possibly endangering the country's right to co-host the 2012 European Championship.
FIFA and UEFA said Tuesday the suspension of the Polish federation board was not legitimate.
UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said a condition of sticking with Poland and Ukraine for European soccer's showcase event was the continuing support of the two governments for their respective soccer associations.
"In this case, it seems it's falling far short of the goal," he said.
Gaillard warned that if the conflict is not resolved "in a satisfactory way" by the end of October, then "UEFA will have to take some decisions, which of course could include sanctions."
FIFA and UEFA said they continue to recognize the federation's current leadership as the "only legitimate authority" to run Polish soccer.
The Polish board was suspended Monday after a ruling by the Polish Olympic Committee's arbitration court. Robert Zawlocki was appointed temporary chief of the federation in response to a motion submitted by the Ministry of Sport.
Poland's Minister of Sport, Miroslaw Drzewiecki, rejected the assertion that the temporary administrator was illegitimate, saying it was "in line with the law."
He said he plans to head a delegation to meet with FIFA and UEFA leaders at the end of the week to explain the situation.
Last week, UEFA's executive committee ruled that Poland and Ukraine would remain as Euro 2012 co-hosts but warned they could still lose the tournament if preparations fall behind schedule.
Proposals will be submitted to the next FIFA executive committee meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on Oct. 23-24, as well as UEFA's emergency panel around the same time.
FIFA and UEFA said Tuesday they would ask the International Olympic Committee to investigate the Polish Olympic body for "violation of the fundamental principles of the Olympic and sporting movement."
Prosecutors in Wroclaw launched an investigation in 2005 into match-fixing in Polish soccer. They have charged about 120 people — including federation members, coaches, referees, players and club officials — with rigging matches in the top domestic leagues. Twenty-nine clubs have been implicated. |