Champions League
Champions League: UEFA are considering replacing referee Marciniak from the final amid allegations of far-right connections
UEFA has opened an investigation into claims by an anti-racism group that Champions League final referee Simon Marciniak was involved in a far-right rally in Poland.
The Champions League final will be played between Manchester City and Inter Milan in Istanbul on June 10 but the referee cannot be Simon Marciniak as determined by UEFA.
The Pole is at the center of allegations by anti-racism group Never Again, which claims the international referee “sponsored and attended a recent event organized by a far-right Polish leader, Slawomir Menzen.”
“We are shocked and outraged by Marciniak’s public association with Menzen and his toxic policies. It is incompatible with the basic principles of fair play such as equality and respect,” said Never Again Vice President Rafal Pankowski.
Marciniak was reportedly a speaker at an event presented by Menzen as a business conference for investors, held in Katowice on Monday.
UEFA responded with a statement: “The entire football community abhors the ‘values’ espoused by the team in question and takes these allegations very seriously.” He noted that “further announcements will be made on Friday after all the evidence have been checked”.
Source: Sport 24
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