Controversy surrounds Champions League final referee Szymon Marciniak’s alleged far-right associations

A controversial complaint weighs on the referee Szymon Marciniak, appointed by UEFA to deliver justice in the Champions League final, which will be played in Turkey and has Manchester City and Inter Milan as protagonists. Marciniak was also a judge in the World Cup final between Argentina and France.

According to the AP agency, an anti-racism group urged the Polish referee on Thursday to offer explanations about his participation on May 29 in a political act of a far-right group – the event was titled “Everest” – that demonstrates against “the Jews, gays, abortion, taxes and the European Union”.

As a result of the complaint made by Never Again (Nunca Más), UEFA requested an “urgent clarification” from Marciniak with only nine days to go before the Champions League final. “A later announcement will be issued [el viernes] after reviewing all the evidence,” the association said.

In turn, the entity remarked that “the entire soccer community repudiates the ‘values’ promoted by the group in question” and noted that it “takes the accusations very seriously.”

“We are shocked and appalled by Marciniak’s public association with Sławomir Mentzen and his brand of toxic far-right politics,” Nunca Más founder Rafal Pankowskin said in a statement. “This is incompatible with the basic values ​​of fair play, such as fairness and respect,” he added.

“What we want is for the referee to recognize his mistake. Otherwise, there should be consequences from UEFA and FIFA,” he said.

what did the referee say

Marciniak will be questioned about showing up with Sławomir Mentzen, leader of the populist Konfederacja (Confederation) party, accused of promoting anti-Semitic, sexist and homophobic views among the public. Both were speakers during an event promoted as a conference for entrepreneurs, in Katowice, Poland.

Mentzen promoted the referee’s participation on his social networks. “Marciniak refereed the last World Cup final in Qatar, in a few days he will be in the Champions League final and on Monday he will judge through his perfect eye if the Everest event is the best of its kind,” the politician celebrated on Instagram.

After the controversy, the anti-racism group released a statement sent to them by Marciniak himself. “Being an international soccer referee for many years, I always put fair play and respect for the human being first. I always stay away from racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance that I show in the games that I referee. I always move away from hatred and preach for the good of the human being, ”he insisted.

DECLARATION BY SZYMON MARCINIAK SENT TO STOW. “NEVER AGAIN”:
Being an international football referee for many years, I always put fair play and respect for other people first and I want to pass on these highest values ​​to others. pic.twitter.com/dhhpnLiPHR

— NEVER AGAIN (@StowNEVER AGAIN) June 1, 2023

Marciniak, 42, coached at the 2022 and 2018 World Cups, as well as Euro 2016. He missed Euro 2020 while recovering from a heart complication from contracting COVID-19.