Adrian Siemieniec sanctioned in Ekstraklasa SMS scandal

The Ekstraklasa League Commission has issued sanctions following an investigation into an unauthorized SMS exchange between Jagiellonia Białystok coach Adrian Siemieniec and assistant referee Arkadiusz Kamil Wójcik. The incident occurred during a match against GKS Katowice last season, where Siemieniec sought information regarding potential yellow cards for his players.

Adrian Siemieniec has been handed a six-match suspension and a 100,000 PLN fine. Additionally, he received a two-year ban from Ekstraklasa competitions, which is suspended for three years. Siemieniec stated he accepts the decision with humility and intends to focus on his team.

Assistant referee Arkadiusz Kamil Wójcik received a more severe penalty, including an immediate two-year disqualification. Wójcik has expressed disagreement with the ruling and intends to appeal, noting that a prosecutor's investigation is ongoing. Main referee Paweł Raczkowski was also penalized with a 50,000 PLN fine for the delay in reporting the matter.

Jagiellonia Białystok issued a statement expressing full support for Siemieniec, noting that the proceedings did not find evidence of corruption or any behavior that influenced the match outcome. Meanwhile, Pogoni Szczecin owner Alex Haditaghi criticized the proportionality of the punishments, questioning the logic behind the severity of the referee's ban compared to the coach's.