Polish referee Szymon Marciniak ties World Cup penalty record

Szymon Marciniak, a Polish referee from Płock, holds a degree in pedagogy from the Wyższa Szkoła Edukacji Zdrowotnej i Nauk Społecznych in Łódź. After abandoning a youth interest in cycling, he rose to international prominence, officiating the final of the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

At the current World Cup, Marciniak has awarded five penalty kicks, matching the all‑time record set by Edgardo Codesal and Arthur Ellis. His decisions include a penalty for Iran against Egypt, seven yellow cards and a disallowed goal, all judged correct by analysts. Earlier in the tournament, his handling of a foul on Lionel Messi sparked debate, with VAR later acknowledging a missed call. These performances have placed him among the most notable referees in World Cup history.