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SPORTS MINISTER ASKS

FOR RESIGNATIONS

Warsaw (PMN)—Poland's new Minister of Sport, Joanna Mucha, told journalists in Brussels on November 30, 2011, that members of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) caught up in an alleged corruption scandal should resign. The announcement followed the release of covert video footage that appears to show PZPN president Grzegorz Lato and PZPN secretary-general Zdzislaw Krecina engaged in corrupt practices when discussing a contract for the purchase of a plot of land for the association’s new headquarters.

Mucha, pictured at right, said, “Following such situations, which are clear and obvious to any normal person, then yes, certainly those participating in the recordings [should hand in their resignation], on the other hand I expect such dismissals will take place.”

Both men have denied the allegations. Lato, a former star of the Polish national team, said in an interview with the daily Przeglad Sportowy [Sports Preview] that he would resign, but only if Poland failed to get through the group stages of next summer’s Euro 2012 soccer championships.

“I’m not welded to the stool of the President of the Polish Football Association,” Lato said.