Poland risk FIFA suspension

By Rob Strybel and Darren Ennis

WARSAW/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Poland risk suspension by FIFA from all football competitions, and the loss of co-hosting rights for Euro 2012, unless they reinstate the country's Football Association Monday.

A stand-off continued over the weekend between the game's world governing body and the Polish government as the clock ticked down to Monday's 11 a.m. British time deadline to reverse Warsaw's decision to replace its FA with an administrator last week.

"The deadline stands. Time is running out, but Poland know what they have to do to solve the situation," a FIFA spokesman said.

Poland's arbitration tribunal suspended the PZPN (FA) board and named an administrator last Monday after Sports Minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki filed a motion saying it had violated the law in a number of cases.

FIFA, whose rules forbid government interference, said Warsaw must reinstate the FA or risk being suspended from this month's two World Cup qualifying matches.

UEFA warned any suspension could lead to Poland being stripped of the right to co-host Euro 2012 alongside Ukraine.

William Gaillard, special advisor to UEFA president Michel Platini, told Reuters his organisation "is fully behind FIFA."

"This is about the fundamental principles of our sport. We cannot allow sports administrators to be replaced the following day by politicians at the whim of a government," Gaillard said.