FIFA has warned Poland that it will be barred from World Cup qualifying unless it reinstates its suspended soccer federation by Monday.
In a letter to Michal Listkiewicz, head of the suspended board of the Polish Football Federation, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the board must be returned to full powers by noon Monday.
Otherwise, Euro 2012 co-host Poland will be barred from its 2010 World Cup qualifiers against the Czech Republic on Oct. 11 and Slovakia on Oct. 15, the letter said.
“The internationally recognized authorities of the PZPN (federation) must be restored in the headquarters of the federation, in order to be able to adequately organize the two 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches,” Blatter said in the letter.
The letter gave a deadline of noon local time on Monday for those authorities “to receive full … statutory competencies and decision-making process.”
The board was suspended Monday after a ruling by the Polish Olympic Committee’s arbitration court for allegedly failing to tackle corruption in the domestic league. Robert Zawlocki was appointed temporary chief of the federation in response to a motion submitted by sports minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki.
FIFA and UEFA considered the switch a violation of the autonomy of the federation.
Zbigniew Kozminski, a spokesman for the Polish federation, said Drzewiecki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk have been informed of Blatter’s letter.
Drzewiecki plans to head a delegation to meet with FIFA and UEFA leaders at the end of the week to explain the situation.
FIFA and UEFA issued a joint statement Tuesday saying they continue to recognize the suspended federation as the only legitimate authority to run soccer in Poland.
