The UEFA has entrusted Polish whistleblower Szymon Marciniak with the responsibility of officiating the highly anticipated second leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League between Olympique Lyonnais and Sparta Prague, scheduled for Tuesday evening at 21:00 local time at the Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu.
High stakes call for an experienced referee
The French club faces a challenging task after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat in the first leg in the Czech Republic. Lyon must secure a victory by at least two goals to avoid the threat of extra time or, worse, an early exit from the competition. The UEFA’s decision to appoint Marciniak underscores the gravity of the occasion. At 45, the Polish official brings a wealth of experience, having previously presided over the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, among other high-profile international fixtures.
Lyon’s mixed history under Polish referee
Marciniak’s appointment is likely to evoke mixed emotions among the Lyon faithful. This will mark his fifth appearance in a competitive match involving the club. While his most recent assignment ended in disappointment—a crushing 5-1 loss to FC Barcelona in 2019—he also played a pivotal role in a memorable victory against Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League (3-1, 2017), though Lyon fell short of advancing. His previous encounters with the club included narrow defeats to Juventus FC (0-1, 2016) and FC Viktoria Plzeň (2-1, 2014).
