Donetsk "Shakhtar" will not play its matches in the next Champions League season at the stadium of the Polish club "Wisła". As the president of the Krakow club, Jarosław Królewski, stated on the social network "X", organizing additional matches involves a huge volume of work, energy, and resources, and "Wisła" already faces an extremely difficult year ahead, UNN reports.
Details
After consultations and constructive discussions with the club's Supervisory Board, as well as official votes, we have made the following decisions regarding two important issues for the club. The "Wisła" team will not organize matches for the Polish club "Wieczysta" within the Ekstraklasa, nor will it organize "Shakhtar" matches within European competitions
He added that the club has already warned the Ukrainian and Polish teams about this decision. He explained that the reason for such a decision is that "Wisła", after 4 difficult years, and before that - after a fierce struggle for its own existence, must focus primarily on "Wisła's" affairs.
We have a lot to improve, a lot to learn, many different new opportunities for growth, but above all, we are obliged to put "Wisła's" affairs and the interests of our club first - no sentiments or personal relationships are more important than the club. Organizing additional matches is a huge amount of work, energy, and resources, and "Wisła" already faces an extremely difficult year. We have a giant task ahead of us in the areas of communication, marketing, social media, sales, and building the "Wisła Kraków" brand
He notes that taking on additional responsibilities and selling services to other entities is irrational for the club from a business perspective. The president of the Polish club also added that currently "Wisła" manages the stadium's turf and invests significant funds in it and its protection.
To be fair to both sides, we are announcing our decision today, demonstrating that no other issues matter here except for a simple analysis of our real capabilities and the setting of priorities
Addition
Donetsk "Shakhtar" played its European campaign (initially in the Europa League, and later in the Conference League) at the "Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium" in Krakow, which is the home arena of "Wisła".
It should be noted that the matches at the "Wisła" stadium were marked by scandals. For instance, during the second round of the Conference League, "Shakhtar" hosted the Polish club "Legia" (1:2). During the match, "Legia" ultras tried to bring a banner about the Volyn tragedy with the inscription "We remember Volyn" into the stands.
During the match, "Legia" fans shouted: "F*** UPA and Bandera," as well as "Shakhtar Donetsk is an old Soviet whore."
The goalkeeper of the Donetsk club, Kyrylo Fesiun, called the Polish fans "cattle" after the match.
The Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, had to intervene in the matter, stating that the provocations by Polish fans during the second-round match of the Conference League between Donetsk "Shakhtar" and Warsaw "Legia" had nothing to do with the sporting event or supporting the teams, and therefore it is difficult to understand the motives for such a provocation.
Note that the first place in the Ukrainian Championship, which "Shakhtar" took, allows qualification for the Champions League group stage from the second round due to Ukraine's position in the UEFA coefficient table.
Shakhtar becomes Ukrainian football champion ahead of schedule10.05.26, 19:07
However, the "Miners" were able to break straight into the group stage. This happened because "PSG" secured a second consecutive victory in the Champions League, which allows direct entry to the CL. However, "PSG" had already qualified for the next Champions League season through their victory in the French championship, so one vacant spot appeared in the main round of the tournament.
It was this vacant spot that "Shakhtar" took, as "Olympiacos" and "Rangers" had already lost their chances to become champions of Greece and Scotland, respectively.