A huge scandal in the Polish league. The match had to be abandoned.
The Białystok and Częstochowa teams have high aspirations of competing for the top spot in the top flight. It's no surprise, then, that fans were eagerly anticipating a head-to-head clash between the two (of the four total) teams competing in the UEFA Conference League league phase. The match was indeed entertaining, although the early stages of the second half cast a shadow over the outcome.
Scandal in Białystok. Referee Paweł Raczkowski vs. Jaga fansThe match was abandoned after less than an hour of play. Referee Paweł Raczkowski was not indifferent to an offensive banner displayed in the Jagiellonia supporters' section. It was directed directly at Bartosz Frankowski. In another recent top-flight clash, the referee inflicted a disservice on Jagiellonia by making a mistake in a key situation to the Białystok team's detriment, and shortly afterward, the three points were awarded to the currently top-flight Górnik Zabrze.
Jagiellonia's fans decided to voice their disagreement with the referee. It should be noted that referee Frankowski apologized for his mistake, although it was true that this did not restore the points lost by coach Adrian Siemienic's team.
A banner with an offensive slogan during the Jagiellonia vs. Raków match? It read:
"You bet on the Franconia match, you fucking b***h, you screwed Jagiellonia over"
Referee Raczkowski, who was in charge of the match, stopped the match in the 58th minute – for a total of 12 minutes – because of the display of this banner. He expressed solidarity with his colleague and opposed this form of "protest" by fans in the stands.
The referee of Sunday's match, in a special, long statement, referred to the reasons why he made such a decision, interrupting the match.
Due to the events that occurred during the match between Jagiellonia Białystok and Raków Częstochowa, I have decided to delay the resumption of play after the home fans displayed a banner containing vulgar and offensive content directed at referee Bartosz Frankowski. We do not condone hate speech, hate speech, or any form of vulgar insults. Such behavior has nothing to do with sportsmanship and the principles of fair play, which are the foundation of football.
I also want to emphasize that in lower leagues, referees often encounter verbal and physical aggression, as well as threats and attempts to violate personal integrity. This is absolutely unacceptable and requires a decisive response from the entire football community. There are issues that are unacceptable and must be addressed unequivocally. The football pitch should be a place of sporting emotion, not hatred. Everyone participating in a match – both on the pitch and in the stands – should remember to respect each other.
The decision to suspend the match was difficult but necessary. It was made out of respect for the values that should underpin football at every level. I would like to thank the Jagiellonia Białystok players for their complete understanding of the situation, their support, and their effective action, which led to the removal of the offensive banners.
With respect, Paweł Raczkowski.
Oskar Repka was the hero of Sunday's match. The Raków Częstochowa midfielder scored twice, helping coach Marek Papszun's team win in Białystok. The victory vaulted the Częstochowa team to seventh place in the table with 20 points.
Jagiellonia is second in the standings with 24 points.
Read also: This is the reality of sports in Poland. "We don't see the human in athletes." Read also: Disaster at Legia Warsaw. These words mean the definitive end.
Wprost
