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Polish FA administrator Robert Zawlocki says he will not step down in a row with FIFA and UEFA over the suspension of the FA authorities, raising concerns that Poland might lose the right to co-host Euro 2012.

"I can only say I will not resign from the administrator's post," Zawlocki told a news conference. "I was nominated by the arbitration tribunal and only the arbitration tribunal can dismiss me."

Poland's arbitration tribunal suspended the FA (PZPN) board and named an administrator on Monday after Sports Minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki filed a motion saying the PZPN had violated the law in a number of cases.

World body FIFA, whose statutes forbid government intervention in football affairs, said on Wednesday Poland must reinstate the PZNP by October 6 or risk being suspended from this month's two World Cup qualifying matches.

Poland are scheduled to play Czech Republic on October 11 and Slovakia four days later in European qualifying Group Three which the team lead with four points from two games.

The row also puts in jeopardy Poland's joint hosting of UEFA's 2012 European Championship finals with neighbours Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk backed his sports minister, saying the administrator should stay in place.

"I will support Minister Drzewiecki in this matter," Tusk said on Friday in his first public comment on the issue.

The PZPN and Drzewiecki were holding a second day of emergency talks on Friday.

"Sometimes a tough stand is needed and this can be costly. I am sure Minister Drzewiecki will not dismiss the administrator," Tusk told reporters.

"Polish soccer cannot be healed (with such a dismissal). And why do we need qualifiers that we will lose anyway if Polish football doesn't change?

"I say this as a football lover," added Tusk, who is widely known for his interest in the game. Newspapers say he takes many decisions of state while playing football with his ministers.

Corruption accusations have often been raised against the PZPN and its head, Michal Listkiewicz, but a succession of sports ministers, including Drzewiecki, have failed to oust him.

Local commentators say Listkiewicz, widely seen as a close friend of UEFA President Michel Platini, will probably resist any such attempts this time round as well.

A survey published by the Dziennik daily showed many Poles back their government in the row. The TNS OBOP poll said 38 percent believed the PZPN administrator should not be dismissed, 28 percent that he should.

Reuters