UEFA says Marciniak can referee Champions League final despite far-right event

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Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA said on Friday that Polish referee Szymon Marciniak will be able to work the men’s Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan, even though he went to a far-right conference.

UEFA says Marciniak can referee Champions League final despite far-right event

Nigdy Wiecej, which means “Never Again” in Polish, is a group that fights racism and anti-Semitism. On Monday, they told the European football body that Marciniak was at the “Everest” event in Katowice.

Marciniak said in a statement that he had been “gravely misled and completely unaware of the true nature and affiliations of the event in question” when he accepted an offer.

“I didn’t know that it had anything to do with a Polish far-right group. If I had known this, I would have turned down the offer right away,” he said.

“Mr. Marciniak will do his job as the referee for the 2023 UEFA Champions League final,” UEFA said after hearing what he had to say.

On June 10, the final will be held in Istanbul.

UEFA said that it “clearly rejects the values that a group connected to this conference is promoting.”

Marciniak was also in charge of the World Cup final between Argentina and France in Doha last year. He said, “As a professional deeply committed to the game of football, I want to emphasize my unwavering support for the values championed by UEFA, especially inclusion and respect for all individuals regardless of their background.”

He also said sorry “to the clubs, players, fans, colleagues, officials, and organizations that put their trust in me.”

Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland, supported Marciniak by tweeting, “He is the best referee in the world. He respects everyone and makes sure that this respect is shown on the field and in life.”

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