A good week before the final of the Champions League, allegations against final referee Szymon Marciniak (42) caused a stir.
The Pole is said to have appeared as the main speaker at an event organized by right-wing populist Slawomir Mentzen last Monday, the English Guardian reported on Thursday. Mentzen is a member of the leadership team of the right-wing extremist and EU-critical alliance Konfederacja.
The European Football Union confirmed its own investigations into the matter to the SID in the evening. “UEFA is aware of the allegations against Szymon Marciniak and is seeking clarification,” it said in a statement. “UEFA and the entire football community abhor the ‘values’ represented by the group in question and take the allegations very seriously .” Another statement will follow on Friday when more information is available.
A few years ago, Mentzen summarized the Konfederacja’s goals as follows: “We want a Poland without Jews, homosexuals, abortions, taxes and the European Union.”
Marciniak is scheduled to referee the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan on June 10 in Istanbul. The 42-year-old has been one of the most respected referees for years, last winter he officiated the World Cup final between world champions Argentina and France in Qatar.