FIFA, UEFA refuse to recognize government's appointment of Rusko to head PZPN

FIFA and UEFA rejected the appointment Monday of Polish soccer league president Andrzej Rusko as the new temporary head of the Polish soccer federation.

Photo: FIFA, UEFA refuse to recognize government's appointment of Rusko to head PZPN

The two organizations issued a joint statement expressing surprise "at the decision of the Polish Minister of Sport, Tomasz Lipiec, to appoint a commissioner to head the Polish soccer federation (PZPN) in a move that not only violates the principle of autonomy that applies throughout the sports movement."

On Friday, Lipiec suspended 35 federation officials, including president Michal Listkiewicz, for failing to stop corruption. Board member Wit Zelazko was arrested on suspicion of corruption and match-fixing, reports AP.

"The PZPN executive committee remains the only body that FIFA and UEFA recognize in relation to all football matters in Poland," the statement said.

"In the coming days and weeks, FIFA and UEFA will determine what action to take in response to the Polish government's interference, which contravenes article 17 of the FIFA statutes."

FIFA and UEFA also said they support the decision to convene new elections for the PZPN in March.