FIFA removes Poland sanction threat

By Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - FIFA has dropped its threat of sanctions against Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland after reaching an agreement with the country's government, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Monday.

"We have received letters and documents that there has been an agreement between the FA and the Polish government," Blatter told reporters in Brussels.

"If this agreement comes into force tomorrow it is sufficient for us. We will not impose any sanctions once the agreement comes into force."

FIFA last week warned the Polish government that it was facing the possible suspension of its national football team after it decided to replace the FA's leadership with a government-appointed administrator.

FIFA's European counterpart UEFA said Monday's development removed any "immediate threat" of Poland losing the right to co-host Euro 2012 with Ukraine but said it would be closely monitoring the Polish government's adherence to Monday's agreement.

"There is no immediate threat to their hosting of Euro 2012," William Gaillard, special adviser to UEFA president Michel Platini, told Reuters after the government agreed to end their administration of the Polish FA.

"However a lot of trust has been lost and we need to see if they stick to their side of the agreement this time around."

As well as removing the administrator, FIFA said the Polish government had agreed to return to a "roadmap" set up following a similar row in 2007.  Continued...