Ahead of the much-anticipated UEFA Champions League final, referee Szymon Marciniak has stole all the limelight for reasons he would not have wanted. The referee has found himself in the centre of a far-right controversy just few days before the huge clash between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
The final is scheduled to take place on June 10th at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Turkey. But ahead of the game, there were rumours that UEFA may decide to remove Szymon Marciniak from the game after he spoke at an event organized by a far-right politician. With such a huge controversy erupting because of the referee, we are taking a look at who he is and what really happened.
Who is Szymon Marciniak?
| Name | Szymon Marciniak |
| Date of birth | 7 January 1981 |
| Place of birth | Plock, Poland |
List of matches refereed by Szymon Marciniak?
| Date | Match | Tournament | Booking summary |
| December 3 2022 | Argentina 2-1 Australia | World Cup Round of 16 | Two yellow cards issued |
| December 18 2022 | Argentina 3-3 France | World Cup Final | Eight yellow cards issued |
| March 14 2023 | Porto 0-0 Inter Milan | UEFA Champions League Round of 16 | Five yellow cards, one red card issued |
| April 18 2023 | Napoli 1-1 AC Milan | UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final | Four yellow cards issued |
| May 17 2023 | Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League Semi-Final | Five yellow cards issued |
The controversy about Szymon Marciniak:
Talking about the controversy, UEFA was reportedly considering dropping Szymon Marciniak from the Champions League final after he spoke at an event organized by far-right Polish leader Slawomir Mentzen. The event named ‘The Everest Business Conference’ took place in Katowice on May 29.
Mentzen is the co-chairman of the Confederation Party and courted controversy after making anti-Semitic and homophobic statements. He controversially picked put Jewish and LGBTQIA+ people as groups his party “stand against”. Following the event, the UEFA investigated the matter and has eventually decided against removing the Polish referee for the final.
Szymon Marciniak on the controversy:
Szymon Marciniak has already issued an apology over the incident. In his statement on UEFA’s official website, Marciniak said: “Upon reflection and further investigation, it has become evident that I was gravely misled and completely unaware of the true nature and affiliations of the event in question. I had no knowledge that it was associated a Polish extreme-right movement.
“Had I been aware of this fact, I would have categorically declined the invitation. It is important to understand that the values promoted by this movement are entirely contrary to my personal beliefs and the principles I strive to uphold in my life. I am deeply remorseful for any perception that my participation may have contradicted them.
“I wholeheartedly condemn any form of hate, discrimination, or intolerance, as they have no place within the sport or society as a whole. Moving forward, I pledge to be more vigilant in scrutinizing the events and organizations with which I associate myself. I am committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that such lapses in judgment do not occur in the future.
“Lastly, I extend my sincere apologies to the clubs, players, fans, colleagues, officials and organizations who place their trust in me. I fully comprehend that my actions have had repercussions beyond personal disappointment, and I am fully prepared to accept any consequences resulting from my ill-advised participation,” he added.
Also Read: Liverpool Legend Could Make A Sensational Return To Anfield Ahead Of Next Season