The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) says it is reviewing the appointment of Szymon Marciniak, the man to officiate the Champions League final. After he gave a speech at an event organised by Polish far-right leader Slawomir Mentzen.
On June 10 in Istanbul, the showdown match between Manchester City and Inter Milan will be overseen by 42-year-old Polish official Marciniak.
On May 29, he went to the Everest business conference in Katowice, a city in Poland.
In his speech, Marcinak said: “I always disassociate myself from expressions of racism, anti-Semitism, and intolerance. Which I show in matches I referee.
“I always say stop the hatred, and will promote that the most important thing is to be a good person.”
But UEFA has seen this to be against one of its policies which is, all officials of the governing body should dissociate themselves from politics.
The governing body said in a statement which was cited by BBC Sport: “UEFA is aware of the allegations surrounding Szymon Marciniak. And is seeking urgent clarification,” the body said. Adding it would make a further announcement later on Friday.
“UEFA and the whole football community abhor the ‘values’ that are promoted by the group in question. And take these allegations very seriously.”
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Polish sports minister Kamil Bortniczuk wrote a letter to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. He says the business conference had nothing to do with politics.
And that the referee had given a 45-minute motivational speech at the conference. The far-right conference leader, according to Mr. Bortniczuk, had no interaction with the referee.
In December 2022, Marciniak officiated the FIFA World Cup final match between Argentina and France.
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