Poland's federation board back in business

Polish Sports Minister Tomasz Lipiec agreed to a deal with FIFA to reinstate the Polish football federation's governing board and to avoid possible international suspension.

After meeting with Polish President Lech Kaczynski, FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, said the Polish football federation "has won back the full understanding and the full trust of the FIFA family."

Blatter also said an independent committee that is made up of representatives for Lech Kaczynski, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, and members of FIFA and UEFA, will monitor the work of the reinstated federation board.

"Today we finished surgery," Lipiec said. "The point is to have the patient go on living, so medication will be continued."

Lipiec suspended the 35 member Polish federation's governing board and appointed temporary chief, Marcin Wojcieszak, on Jan. 19.

Lipiec said that the federation's board had done little to combat corruption in Polish football, especially, the growing match-fixing scandal in Poland's domestic leagues in which about 70 people were arrested.

FIFA harshly criticized the government's action and would not recognize Lipiec's appointment of a new chief. It also threatened to suspend Poland from international events, unless the sports ministry reinstated the board.

Wojcieszak will also monitor the board as it passes amendments to the federation's statutes and calls new elections.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.