Leading former referee backs gladiatorial Marciniak for Euro finals

Szymon Marciniak was mentioned among the candidates to officiate the final of the European Championships in Germany. Many experts argued that the Pole might not get the chance due to a mistake that the German media accused him of making in the semi-final of the Champions League. Marciniak disallowed a goal for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid. His assistant had spotted an offside. The media accused the Pole of interrupting the German team's action too quickly. Ultimately, the Frenchman Francois Letexier will officiate the final.

Former football referee Mario van der Ende, in an interview with "Przegląd Sportowy Onet", recalls that "The Germans made a big fuss about it", but it was one mistake by the Pole over two years. "The level that Marciniak reached since the World Cup in Qatar was unimaginable. That final should be shown at all training sessions," he believes.

He adds that "the refereeing world is sick." When a player misses a goal opportunity, he has a chance to explain himself in an interview with the media. A referee cannot defend himself, and the federation does not defend him either.

The referee arrives at the training camp before a major tournament and the first thing he hears is: "Hush, no talking to the media". That's sick - rants van der Ende, who also reveals that years ago he was told by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that "politics is the most important thing in football".

Marciniak is a true Roman - says Mario van der Ende in an interview with "Przegląd Sportowy Onet". When I see Marciniak, the Roman Empire and a gladiator stepping into the middle of the Colosseum come to mind. Gladiators fought for their lives, but the best entered the arena straight-backed, confident, with tensed muscles and a smile. That's how a person who referees the world's most essential matches must be. That's how Marciniak is. He can be sent to war - he asserts.

The former referee says that Marciniak made no mistakes in the two matches he officiated at the Euros. He argues that he has built confidence and physical form and has enormous experience.

The best footballers respect Marciniak. They know that he will let them decide the course of the match and will not push himself into the forefront. They appreciate his confidence. In the locker room before the game, no one says: let's jump on Marciniak; let's try to set him up. They know it won't work - says Mario van der Ende.

Mario van der Ende argues that 19 refereeing teams were invited to the Euros, but half should not be at the tournament. "Spaniard Manzano, Romanian Kovacs, and several others. They did not rise to the level of this tournament. Some promises had to be fulfilled. Romania, Sweden, and Slovakia referees do not work with VAR daily. They don't have it in their leagues. They don't know how to use it. They are learning at the most important tournament on the continent," says the Dutchman.