After his apology, Marciniak will remain a referee for the Champions League final

The European Football Association (UEFA) said today, Friday, that Polish referee Simon Marchiniak will officiate the Champions League final, after he apologized for participating in an event linked to a far-right movement.

UEFA was investigating his participation in an event in Katowice last Monday, saying he “hated the values ​​promoted by the movement”, but would run the final after an apology and clarification from an anti-discrimination body.

“I want to express my deepest apologies for my participation and any harm or pain this may have caused,” Marchignac said in a statement. “After reflection and further investigation, it has become clear that I was deeply misled and was not fully aware of the true nature and affiliations of the event in question. I had no knowledge of it.” “It is linked to a far-right Polish movement. If I knew this fact, I would have refused the invitation flatly.”

Marchignac, 42, is one of the best referees in Europe and also officiated the World Cup final in Qatar when Argentina beat France.

During the investigation, UEFA said that it had contacted a non-governmental organization affiliated with the Network Against Discrimination in European Football.

“(They) raised initial concerns about Mr Marchiniak’s participation in the event. They have asked that Mr Marchiniak remain as referee for the Champions League final, firmly asserting that denying him officiating would undermine anti-discrimination promotion,” UEFA said.

Manchester City will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul next Saturday.