Michniewicz explained his contacts with “The Hairdresser”. “I close this topic”

On Monday, Czesław Michniewicz was introduced as the new coach of the Polish national team. Michniewicz, in the presence of the president of the Polish Football Association – Cezary Kulesza – appeared at a press conference at the national stadium, where he answered journalists’ questions.

A small part of them concerned the doubts that circulated around Michniewicz regarding the corruption cases from 18 years ago. it has been shown that in just over two years he had contacted the head of the football mafia 711 times – Ryszard F, pseudonym “The Hairdresser”.

On Monday, Michniewicz asked about it, among others “Wirtualna Polska” journalist, Szymon Jadczak, who wanted to find out why the new selector contacted “Fryzjer” several times for a total of 26.5 minutes before the game Świt Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki – Lech Poznań, which took place on May 22, 2004.

The choice of the match was not accidental. First of all, Michniewicz was then Lech’s coach. Second, as the investigation showed, this match was set. Three former footballers from Lech Poznań were accused for this match.

“It was a very important match for Świt, so it was decided to bribe both the observer, the referee and the players of Lech Poznań. The latter were to demand PLN 100,000 for” setting the match “. Piotr Reiss, Waldemar K. and Zbigniew W were accused of participating in corruption. Before the match, the activists of Dawn learned that the referee of this meeting would be Robert Małek from Zabrze, and the observer Zygmunt Z. Janusz Wójcik knew the latter and offered him a bribe himself, and the observer accepted the offer “- led by Dominik Panek, who has been describing it for years what was happening in Polish football at that time.

Michniewicz on contacts with “The Hairdresser”

On Tuesday, Michniewicz was a guest of Krzysztof Stanowski in the “Hejt Park” program on Kanał Sportowy. In it, the new coach of the Polish national team referred to all the alleged acts and contacts with “The Hairdresser”.

– We met Forbrick in 1996, when I joined Amica Wronki. I was a goalkeeper there, but mostly just a backup. Forbrich was then the sports director and vice president of the club where we spent a total of about six years. Therefore, accusing me that I spoke to him only in times of great corruption in Poland is a lie. We met much earlier – said Michniewicz.

And he added: – In 2002 Forbrich left Amica, and in 2003 I became the coach of Lech Poznań. Our contacts, however, did not end, because Forbrich was the vice-president of the Wielkopolska Football Association and at the old Lech stadium he had a box where he often appeared and talked with many people. It is also a fact that we used to call and chat a lot in those days, but none of them was about corruption. Forbrich cheered on me, he was angry with Amica for parting with him. When I won and they didn’t, he was happy and he didn’t hide it.

How did Michniewicz explain the huge number of connections with the mafia boss? – Today I do not remember exactly what we talked about, because it was 18 years ago. I will just give a few examples. I lived alone after coming to Lech, and my wife in Gdynia. One day our car was stolen and my wife was left alone with it. Forbrich had many friends, and some of them imported cars in good condition and at a reasonable price. Then I asked for help, which I got very quickly – he said.

And he added: Another time, Forbrich helped me find a doctor who would otherwise operate on my wife. I’m not saying it was “Uncle Handyman”, but I talked to him about everyday things. Many things could not be done as quickly as today. Forbrich also often called me to ask about some of the results after the matches, there used to be no internet, only teletext, which did not update the results so quickly and, above all, thoroughly.

Michniewicz about the match Świt – Lech

Michniewicz, truthfully, emphasized that he had never been convicted or charged in a corruption case. Finally, he referred to the allegations regarding the match in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki. Michniewicz explained and said why the line-up for the match against Świt differed from the optimal one. In that game, the new coach did not field a few important players.

Michniewicz replied that everything was determined by the league and the final of the Polish Cup. This one was then played in the form of a aggregate match. In the first game, Lech defeated Legia 2-0. A few days later he played with Świt, followed by a rematch with Legia.

Michniewicz explained that Bartosz Bosacki and Piotr Świerczewski did not play in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki in the game against Świt, because they were suspended for yellow cards (those from the league and the Polish Cup counted in both competitions – ed.). Michał Goliński was in danger of being suspended for the rematch with Legia and in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki he was only on the bench. Maciej Scherfchen did not play because he was injured in his hand. At the beginning of the match against Świt, Łukasz Madej also suffered an injury.

When asked about the talks with “Hairdresser” before the match with Świt, Michniewicz replied: – I talked to him 18 years ago, I really don’t remember what. Anyway, I could not talk about anything bad, because several players testified in this case and none of them said that Michniewicz gave any sign that this match would be lost.

Michniewicz about the game Górnik Polkowice – Lech

The second match that Michniewicz was accused of was against Górnik Polkowice. In the rematch with Legia, Lech lost 0: 1, but won the Polish Cup. The next match was only seven days away. At that time, the team was invited to various events, and Michniewicz planned that several players who played less at that time would play in Polkowice.

Michniewicz admitted that he changed his mind after the situation that had happened to him a few days before the match on the market square in Poznań. During the trip to the restaurant with his family, two men from Górnik Polkowice – Mariusz J. and Andrzej S. – approached the coach and offered money for forgetting the match to the team that was fighting to keep in the 1st league.

Michniewicz categorically refused and went to the president of Lech, informing him about everything. Lech’s coach not only changed his mind about the line-up, but also about the way of arriving at the match. Although Michniewicz did not plan a grouping before him, it finally took place. The coach mobilized his players to win, because in the event of a defeat, they would certainly be accused of corruption. The Lechites in Polkowice showed up 10 minutes before the game and changed their clothes in the forest to limit contact with people from Górnik.

Lech won this match 2-0. On the way back, the players asked Michniewicz about the possibility of drinking beer on the bus. During the trip, one of the masseurs gave the coach dollars that he had received from one of the teams struggling to maintain. It was a reward for defeating Górnik. Michniewicz argued that he did not know anything about the bonus beforehand, and on the coach he divided it between all staff members and players.

The prosecutor’s office looked into the issue of the distribution of money. However, the court finally acquitted the masseur. – I was concerned that this bonus would turn out to be illegal or that I had not paid tax on it. But that’s the only thing I was a little afraid of. That’s all. I would like to emphasize once again that I did nothing wrong, that I was not convicted or accused for anything – said Michniewicz.