The national joy at the relative success of the Polish football team during the World Cup in Qatar has turned into a political row within days. The team, led by Robert Lewandowski, survived the group stage for the first time since 1986 and – in Poland at least as important – outperformed neighboring Germany. After a loss (3-1) against reigning world champion France in the round of 16, the team went home with their heads held high. And, it seemed, with well-filled pockets.
At a farewell meeting prior to the tournament, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had promised the players a “decent reward” of at least 30 million zloty (6.4 million euros) if they reached the second round. Not a huge amount to divide between 26 well-paid professional football players, but apparently enough to argue about internally. According to Polish media, Lewandowski, the richest of them all, did not want national coach Czeslaw Michniewicz to share substantially in the loot.
But the real loser turned out to be Prime Minister Morawiecki, who, after his promise was leaked by the opposition, was denounced on social media and within his own PiS party for the generous gift from the state treasury. Poland is struggling with record inflation of almost 18 percent and many citizens are struggling with high energy costs and other basic necessities of life. With national elections looming next year, any political blunder is dangerous.
On Tuesday morning, Morawiecki said that the bonus was due to the players. Later that day he suggested that it is important to invest in top sport. And by the end of the day he withdrew the entire gift: “In the end, no government money will go to bonuses for football players,” he said via Facebook.
For Morawiecki, it is hoped that his misguided generosity of taxpayers’ money will be forgotten as quickly within Poland as the sporting achievements of the football team outside.