Poland Matches Set To Be Cancelled
With the stand-off between FIFA and the Polish government nowhere near being resolved, Poland’s two World Cup qualifying matches to be played this coming weekend from 11 - 15 Oct look set to be cancelled. If such a scenario were to take place, the games and points will be awarded to the Czech Republic and Slovakia respectively, with Poland’s World Cup 2010 hopes dealt a huge blow. On top of the penalties, Poland will also be punished with 3-0 defeats in each game, giving them a big disadvantage in terms of goal difference.
All this could effectively end Poland’s hopes to appear in South Africa in 2010. The Polish government has refused to stand down, reiterating that cleaning up the corruption within Polish football as a priority over the country’s qualifying hopes. They are also not about to be bullied into letting FIFA and UEFA have their way in this scandal, with the latter threatening to remove Poland’s hosting rights for Euro 2012, which will be another blow to the country’s economic hopes. The football World Cup and Euro tournaments have traditionally provided a boost to every hosting country’s economic development at the time of the individual events.
Polish Interior Minister Grzegorz Schetyna have accused both FIFA and UEFA as using “scare tactics” to prevent justice from being served.
“There is a battle of wits and a war of nerves between Poland and FIFA. Ultimatums and pressure are not advisable. I think FIFA is using scare tactics.”