Marciniak's affair

In fresh days, the public has raised the issue of allegations made against football referee Simon Marciniak concerning his participation in the “Everst” conference co-organised by 1 of the leaders of the Confederation of Sławomir Mentzen, held on 29 May in Katowice.

The conference afraid financial and economical affairs and was devoted to supporting entrepreneurship. However, it was not about the subject of the conference, but about the fact that its co-organiser was a prominent organization activist considered to be "far right” and politically incorrect. Incidentally, the function of Simon Marciniak in this event was marginal, but the participation in it itself triggered an attack of on-call “anti-fascists” from “Never More” Association. For years, activists have been working to track down “fascists“ different ointments and monitoring of public life for the alleged spread of xenophobia, racism, or anti-Semitism. All who violate arbitrary standards of political correctness are targeted at the “Never More” Association. This time Simon Marciniak, late appointed by UEFA to justice this year's Champions League football final between Manchester City and Inter Milan, was the victim of these actions.

As stated by the leader of the Association “Never More” Rafał Pankowski: “Jwe are shocked and appalled by Marciniak's public association with Mentzen and his variant of a toxic far right policy. This is incompatible with basic fair play values specified as equality and respect. We call on the justice to admit his mistake. If he does not, we believe that UEFA and FIFA should have consequences‘. Public charges against Martiniak and mopping his face with a fascist threatened to dismiss him from judging the Champions League final.

In the end, this did not happen due to the fact that Simon Marciniak made a message in which he publically presented himself for his participation in the “Everest” conference and made self-criticism following the rituals of Stalinism, apologizing for not showing “revolutionary vigilance”. In his statement, Marciniak stated, inter alia: “After reflection and further investigation, it became clear that I was seriously misled and completely unaware of the actual nature and the relation of the event. I did not know that it was related to the Polish movement of the far right. If I were aware of that, I would categorically reject the invitation. It is crucial to realize that the values promoted by this movement are completely contrary to my individual beliefs and principles I effort to follow in my life. I feel bad that my participation may have been contrary to them” (...) Furthermore, I wholeheartedly condemn all forms of hatred, discrimination or intolerance due to the fact that there is no place for them in athletics and society as a whole. Moving on, I commit myself to a more vigilant analysis of the events and organisations with which I am associated. I commit to learn from this experience and guarantee that specified mistakes in the assessment do not happen in the future” . This message was just as pathetic as it was effective, as the Federation authorities graciously gave Marciniak “the guilt”.

The analysis of the full case shows what absurdities we are dealing with in the present reality. Even participation in an event considered politically incorrect can origin public harassment, ostracism and even negative professional and financial consequences. Second, behaviour based on the lowest instincts, specified as reporting, is tolerated and accepted in public space. For various reasons, I am not a supporter of the Confederacy, but it is highly right, anti-Semitic, or fascist that is absurd in itself. I besides do not intend to defend, and I do not feel sorry for justice Martiniak, as his explanations were simply embarrassing. More crucial was the function played in filming the full affair Association “Never More”. I do not remember that this organization has always condemned, for example, the environment of Ukrainian chauvinists referring to the ideology of flagism, frequently utilizing Nazi/Fascist slogans and specified symbolism. In this case, does “Never More” Fascism not see?

Michał Radzikowski