Poland risks suspension by FIFA from all football competitions, and the loss of co-hosting rights for Euro 2012, unless it reinstates the country's Football Association by 11am UK today.
Reuters reports that the stand-off between the football’s world governing body and the Polish government continued over the weekend as Poland refused to reverse Warsaw's decision to replace its FA with an administrator.
"The deadline stands. Time is running out, but Poland know what they have to do to solve the situation," a FIFA spokesman told the news service.
Poland's arbitration tribunal suspended the PZPN (FA) board and named an administrator last Monday after Sports Minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki filed a motion saying it had violated the law in a number of cases. FIFA, whose rules forbid government interference, said Warsaw must reinstate the FA or risk being suspended from this month's two World Cup qualifying matches.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, has also warned that suspension could lead to Poland being stripped of the right to co-host Euro 2012 alongside Ukraine. William Gaillard, special advisor to UEFA president Michel Platini, told Reuters that his organisation "is fully behind FIFA."
"This is about the fundamental principles of our sport. We cannot allow sports administrators to be replaced the following day by politicians at the whim of a government," Gaillard said. "FIFA are taking the lead in this. But we will react very quickly to any fallout which may have consequences for us, notably Euro 2012."
Poland is scheduled to play Czech Republic on October 11 and Slovakia four days later in European qualifying Group Three, which the team lead with four points from two games. If Poland fail to meet today’s deadline they could be forced to forfeit their matches and their opponents awarded 3-0 victories.
