Wisła Kraków has accused Pogoń Szczecin of violating FIFA and Polish FA (PZPN) regulations during the transfer of Jordi Sanchez. The Kraków-based club filed an official request with the Liga Commission this week, as reported by Przegląd Sportowy Onet.
The dispute erupted after the transfer of the current Ekstraklasa top scorer, Jordi Sanchez, to Pogoń was revealed on social media. Wisła Kraków's president, Jarosław Królewski, alleged that the Szczecin club negotiated with the player's agent, Luis Fernandez, without informing Wisła's board. Królewski also questioned the agent's license, which could not be found in FIFA's official agent search.
What specific allegations did Wisła's president make?
Jarosław Królewski laid out concrete accusations. He claims Pogoń Szczecin breached a confidentiality clause in Sanchez's contract by making direct contact with his representative. "From what we hear, the case of Jordi Sanchez and his buyout by Pogoń Szczecin will have major consequences." the Wisła president said.
In the request submitted on Tuesday, Wisła Kraków is demanding hearings for Sanchez himself, his agent Luis Fernandez, and Pogoń's president, Alex Haditaghi. The club wants the Liga Commission to investigate whether there were irregularities in how information about the player's transfer clause was communicated. So far, there is no concrete evidence that such negotiations actually took place.
How is Pogoń Szczecin responding to the accusations?
The Szczecin club firmly denies all allegations. President Alex Haditaghi publicly assured that all actions were lawful. "Pogoń acted correctly, professionally and in accordance with the player's contract and the applicable FIFA and PZPN regulations," Haditaghi stated.
The case concerns a potential breach of articles 98, 99, and 100 of the PZPN Disciplinary Regulations. Article 100 is particularly relevant, dealing with the abuse of authority or failure to fulfil obligations regarding cooperation with football agents. The PZPN reminded clubs in a special 2024 communication that agent services may only be performed by individuals holding a FIFA license.
What penalties could be imposed for any violations?
According to PZPN and FIFA regulations, the potential sanctions are severe. For the club, these could include heavy financial penalties and, in extreme cases, a ban on registering new players. The player himself could face a reprimand, a fine, or disqualification. However, experts like Artur Fortuna of the Polish Association of Football Historians and Statisticians criticise President Królewski, arguing the FIFA agent license rule is "dead" and easily circumvented. Fortuna also accuses him of manipulating fans and failing to properly secure Wisła's interests.
Meanwhile, Pogoń Szczecin is focusing on football. The team managed by Alex Haditaghi is unbeaten in its last five league matches (2 wins, 3 draws), most recently drawing 0-0 with Zagłębie Lubin on August 29. The current team squad and player statistics can be checked on our squad page. Królewski ended the public discussion, announcing the dispute would continue in federation bodies. Pogoń's detailed upcoming match schedule is available in the fixtures section.
