Nobody expected such a scandal. Even Sławomir Nitras reacted to the Śląsk match

Polish clubs still count heavily in the fight for European cups. We already know that regardless of the result of the fourth round of the Europa League qualifications, we will see Jagiellonia Białystok in action in the autumn. Adrian Siemieniec’s team has already guaranteed the Europa Conference League, but if they beat Ajax Amsterdam, they will play in a more prestigious and profitable competition. Legia Warsaw and Wisła Kraków also count in the fight for the LKE group stage. However, we will not see Śląsk Wrocław, which said goodbye to the European Cups in controversial circumstances.

Big controversy in the match between Śląsk Wrocław and St. Gallen

After losing the first match against St. Gallen 0:2, Śląsk faced a difficult task. What’s more, it was the Swiss who opened the scoring in the return match in Wrocław, which only worsened Jacek Magiera’s situation. However, a powerful end to the first half meant that the Polish vice-champion went to the locker room with a 3:1 lead after goals by Schwarz, Samiec-Talar, Petr Schwarz and Aleks Petkov.

The second half was not without its unexpected situations. A few minutes after the resumption of play, the black goalkeeper of St. Gallen reported to the referee that one of the Śląsk fans was insulting him in a racist way. The game was interrupted for a long moment while both teams tried to calm down. In the 73rd minute, Śląsk celebrated a penalty. The joy did not last long, because after a VAR review, the referee reversed the decision, giving Petkov a yellow card at the same time. Since the Śląsk captain already had one, it meant a red card and the end of the game.

The referee added 12 minutes to the regular time, although the players played longer in the final. In the 102nd minute, Nahuel Leiva played a handball, which combined with a fight caused Śląsk to lose another player, and Rafał Leszczyński had to defend a penalty kick. Initially, he managed to stop his opponent, but the referee ordered a re-take. The St. Gallen player was right for the second time. Emotions were running high at Tarczyński Arena. Śląsk finished the match with eight players, because in the 22nd minute of added time, Arnau Ortiz received a second yellow card (he received the first one while still on the bench) for simulation. Although the Wrocław team won the match 3:2, they were ultimately eliminated from the LKE qualifiers. After the match, Jacek Magiera announced a protest to UEFA related to the work of the referees, and the Minister of Sport Sławomir Nitras thundered: “Śląsk plays with eight against twelve.”

Wisła Kraków continues to play in the Europa Conference League qualifiers

Śląsk Wrocław is the first Polish club to lose its chance to play in European cups. Wisła Kraków will fight for promotion to the LKE group stage, after losing 1:3 in the first match with Spartak Trnava, in the second one they made up for the loss. They led to penalties after winning (in 120 minutes) 3:1. The series of penalties lasted forever. Even the goalkeepers scored goals. Finally, Kamil Broda saved the decisive penalty after a dozen or so minutes of fighting, which led the “White Star” to the next round.

Wisła Kraków will play in the next round of the qualifiers against Belgian Cercle Brugge. Legia Warsaw will face Kosovo’s Drita Gnjilane.