Polish authorities freeze FA accounts in tax row

Poland's tax office yesterday froze the bank accounts of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) due to unpaid taxes.

The move comes just three days before the PZPN are due to elect a new head to avoid sanctions from FIFA and the potential loss of Poland's right to co-host Euro 2012 with Ukraine.

Deputy head of PZPN, Eugeniusz Kolator, confirmed the association's accounts had been blocked and said a transfer of slightly more than 8.8 million zlotys ($2.8 million) in taxes due was made yesterday afternoon.

"The liability stands at slightly above 8.8 million. Today, unforced, the PZPN made a transfer to the tax office," Kolator said.

"The association's liquidity is not under threat."

Kolator declined to say whether the tax decision was linked to the upcoming election.

Earlier in the day, tax office spokeswoman Agniszka Zukowska told TVN24 news channel the tax office had frozen nearly 10 million zlotys ($3.22 million) to secure PZPN's tax liabilities.

The PZPN will hold an election on Thursday to replace incumbent head Michal Listkiewicz.

The four candidates to head the association are secretary-general Zbigniew Krecina, former Juventus and Polish national team star Zbigniew Boniek, another former player Grzegorz Lato and former senator Tomasz Jagodzinski.

Krecina, the favourite to replace Listkiewicz, was charged with mismanagement of funds by the prosecutor's office last Wednesday.

Poland's sports minister yesterday said he did not back any particular candidate.

"I do not have any favourite candidate in the race, I would back anyone who is clean and wants the PZPN to be professionally managed," Miroslaw Drzewiecki told reporters.

The PZPN management board was suspended by Poland's arbitration tribunal at the request of Warsaw's sports ministry in an anti-corruption drive, triggering the row with FIFA.