Polish World Cup qualifiers to go ahead after agreement reached

Oct 6, 2008, 13:41 GMT

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.