FIFA cries foul over intervention in Polish league

The appointment of the custodian, ordered by Polish Sports Minister Tomasz Lipiec, violates a FIFA statute which precludes involvement by national authorities in the activities of domestic football associations.This is particularly important, as FIFA had already warned the Polish authorities and the president of the organization, Joseph Blatter, had discussed the issue with Lipiec. Regardless, the Polish side did not alter its strategy. Poland has never been in such a situation before and it might see its membership rights suspended for a period ranging from a few weeks to a dozen weeks. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A14) M.M.