|
Polish FA suspended over corruption issues
By Karolina Slowikowska
| |
|
|
A view of the Tenth Anniversary stadium
in Warsaw is seen in this May 2004 file photo. Poland and Ukraine
was chosen on April 18, 2007 to co-host the European Championship
soccer tournament in 2012. REUTERS/Katarina
Stoltz
|
WARSAW (Reuters) - The management board of the Polish Football
Association, which is responsible for co-hosting the European Championship
in 2012, was suspended by Poland's sports ministry on Monday.
"The Arbitration Tribunal, upon the request of the sports minister,
decided on Monday to name Robert Zawlocki as an administrator at the Polish
football association and suspend its management," the Polish FA said
on its website (www.pzpn.pl).
The national news agency PAP said the decision was taken after the FA
failed to take adequate steps to address corruption issues.
Neither the sports minister's office nor the Polish Olympic Committee
could be reachedfor confirmation or comment.
PAP said Zawlocki sent a letter to UEFA president Michel Platini, reassuring
him that organisation of Euro 2012 would not be affected by the move.
Poland and fellow hosts Ukraine were warned by European soccer's governing
body on Friday to speed up their preparations or risk losing the right
to host the tournament in four years time.
VERY SERIOUS
"We have not yet been informed officially nor received this letter,"
Platini's special advisor William Gaillard told Reuters.
"But we are concerned and take this matter very seriously. We will
be discussing the matter with FIFA in the coming hours."
A spokesman for football's world governing body said FIFA was "investigating
the reports" and would make a statement on Tuesday.
FIFA rules do not allow government interference in the running of their
associations. Poland was warned last year it risked suspension after the
government appointed a commissioner as head of the FA in an anti-corruption
drive.
Monday's move in Warsaw came after the sports ministry conducted an audit
of the association and found irregularities in its functioning, sports
minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki was quoted by PAP as saying.
He added the FA did not take adequate steps to address corruption issues.
"After the control I filed a motion with the Arbitration Tribunal
(connected to Poland's Olympic Committee) to suspend the association's
authorities and name an administrator," Drzewiecki said.
Drzewiecki downplayed concerns that the move would have a negative impact
on Poland's preparations to host the European Championship finals in 2012
jointly with neighbours Ukraine.
Poland and Ukraine were given a reprieve last week by UEFA's executive
committee after a progress report on their preparations showed both nations
are still struggling to tackle the colossal tasks of upgrading stadiums
and modernising airports, rail and road networks and hotels.
uk.reuters.com,
Sep 30, 2008
|
|
