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FIFA allow Poland qualifiers as Scotland awaits 2012 ruling

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Published Date: 06 October 2008
FIFA have agreed to allow Poland's World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Slovakia to be played this month after steps were taken to broker a deal between the Polish government and the national football association.
However, FIFA also revealed today they will continue to monitor the situation in the country meaning the nation's status as co-hosts of Euro 2012 could still be in doubt.

In June the Scottish Football Association asked to be considered as an alternative host of the tournament should Poland and Ukraine fail to be ready, although the possibility of a relocation of Euro 2012 is still unlikely.

A statement from world football's governing body on Monday read: "FIFA has today, October 6 2008, received an exchange of communications between the Polish sports ministry and the Polish FA (PZPN), which indicates a positive evolution in the situation of the PZPN. The letters were received within the noon (CET) deadline established by FIFA last Wednesday."

The Polish Football Federation (PZPN) were suspended by the country's sports ministry seven days ago for allegedly failing to address corruption issues.

The Polish Olympic Committee's arbitration court allegedly found irregularities in the functioning of the PZPN during an audit, with Robert Zawlocki named temporary chief of the federation at the request of Miroslaw Drzewiecki, the minister for sport and tourism.

But UEFA and FIFA later announced they would not recognise the administrator, as they take a firm line that there should be no political interference in national associations.

The two governing bodies warned the Polish authorities the country's two World Cup qualifiers would be forfeited unless the government reinstated the football association by today, October 6.

FIFA's statement continued: "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.

"At the same time, the Polish sports ministry has declared that as soon as the ICE has begun its work, at the latest early tomorrow, the Polish National Olympic Committee will be asked to withdraw the temporary administrator of the PZPN.

"This positive evolution will allow the two 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, Poland v Czech Republic and Slovakia v Poland, scheduled for October 11 and 15 respectively, to take place.

"However, FIFA will continue to closely monitor the situation at the Polish FA and the implementation of the measures established in the roadmap.

"The matter will be analysed and discussed once more at the next FIFA executive committee meeting on October 23-24."

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  • Last Updated: 06 October 2008 3:38 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Euro 2012
 
1

AJ Fife,

06/10/2008 15:52:41
Let's bin the 'Empire' Games and put our energy into 2012. The Poles are gonna get booted oot!
2

Bzzzz,

Edinburgh 07/10/2008 00:10:33
JACK em, aye, pretty much know as yer name says, england WONT get it, too soon after the last one.
If it was to go anywhere it would probably be Italy as they could handle it with minimal organisation and hassle. Uefa WANT Scotland to host then if it becomes possible (which it wont as Poland and Ukraine will do it) then it WOULD happen.

3

Bzzzz,

Edinburgh 07/10/2008 00:11:25
Rangers songs good? if yer a traitor that is aye.
Revolting support.
4

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 07/10/2008 00:56:56
Dream on, Gordon, dream on. Scottish football is a one town, 2 horse setup.
5

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 07/10/2008 00:59:16
And name the organisation which perpetuates the one town, 2 horse setup? I reckon it is the SFA.
6

Harlem Tam,

07/10/2008 01:18:32
Rangers flush?

HaHaHa.

In the sense that they are going down the pan.
7

Harlem Tam,

07/10/2008 01:27:46
Here's another little snippet from the article I mentioned yesterday re Rangers' financial hell:
=============================================================
Rangers face the prospect of having to secure approximately a 50% increase in their year-end debt levels just to stay in business. This might be easier to secure if the prospect of Champions League football next season is looking likely.

If Rangers end the season as losers again, their debt projections for 2010 will be so spectacular as to fend off any potential buyer.

If, when the January transfer window opens, this looks likely, their credit worthiness will be all the more untenable as they seek funding to allow them to complete their fixtures for this season.
=============================================================
In other words, if Celtic lose the SPL this season, it will be a big disappointment to all at Celtic, but only from a footballing point of view.

If Rangers do not win the SPL, it will be more like a doomsday scenario as their debt will become unmanageable and the axe will be hovering over the club.

Whatever happened to the super-duper new 700m stadium?
8

Harlem Tam,

07/10/2008 02:18:31
Where have I said Rangers will go bust?

And you still believe, in these turbulent economic days, that the super stadium will materialise? You are even dumber than I thought. Liverpool have just ditched their own new stadium plans.

And anyway, what are these political problems that are holding up the new stadium?

Yes, Celtic were close to bankruptcy, but at least we had a group who had been for years trying to force the board out, and when it happened, there was plenty of money there to save the club.

Rangers won't go bankrupt, but if things go a certain way and Murray is unable to sell, they could suffer years of financial decline, with no money to spend year-on-year.

 

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