Two Polish football clubs relegated in corruption scandal

The Polish Football Association (PZPN) will downgrade two Polish football clubs Zaglebie Lubin and Widzew Lódz to the second league for their involvement in the corruption scandal, sports daily Przeglad Sportowy has found out unofficially.

The official decision of the Football Association will be announced on Wednesday.

Both clubs in question have admitted to their participation in the corrupt practice of setting up game results for bribes in the hope of being granted the possibility to remain in the first league.

Widzew is accused of having arranged the results of twelve matches between August 2004 and May 2005, and Zaglebie - all nine matches it played in the spring of 2004.

The corruption “co-ordinator” in Zaglebie Lubin was the club’s chairman Jerzy F., who paid referees up to 80,000 zlotys in bribes. In Widzew Lódz it was one of the club’s co-owners who corrupted referees, writes the daily.

Michal Tomczak from the Polish Football Association has refused to comment on the revelations unofficially disclosed by Przeglad Sportowy.

“I’m not going to make any comments on possible consequences until Wednesday”, Tomczak said.

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