FIFA lifts threat to suspend Ukraine

FIFA lifts threat to suspend Ukraine

Published Feb. 9, 2011 7:16 a.m. ET

FIFA says it has lifted a threat to suspend Ukraine from world football but will continue monitoring the 2012 European Championship co-host to ensure politicians have stopped meddling in the national federation's business.

FIFA and UEFA intervened last month to protect the position of federation president Grygoriy Surkis after attempts to unseat him.

Surkis, a UEFA executive committee member, is unpopular in Ukraine for appearing to favor Dynamo Kiev, which his family controls.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said last week that football officials must solve their problems and not jeopardize their Euro 2012 role.

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A suspension also would have prevented Shakhtar Donetsk from playing a Champions League match at Roma next week.

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