Warsaw. Club ban for Polonia fan for homophobic banner

The decision to impose a penalty was made on Saturday, July 27. As we read in the document we have obtained, the Polonia Warszawa Club referred to Article 14 of the Act on the Safety of Mass Events. These provisions state that the organizer of a football match may “apply a club ban, consisting in a ban on participation in subsequent mass events organized by the organizer of the football match, imposed by that organizer on a person who has violated the regulations of the facility (area) or the regulations of the mass event.”

The fan was informed that the ban is valid until July 26, 2026.

How was the decision justified? According to the club's board, on July 19, during a mass event – a match between Polonia Warszawa and Znicz Pruszków, the fan committed “an act prohibited in accordance with paragraph 4, section 2, point b of the Mass Events Regulations, i.e. proclaiming and displaying slogans with racist content such as 'LGBT-free zone'”.

The fan was also informed that he had the right to submit a request for a “reconsideration of the matter”.

The club's reaction is the aftermath of the match that took place last Friday at the stadium at Konwiktorska. Polonia Warszawa competed with Znicz Pruszków in the First League football competition. The guests won 1:0. During the match, a homophobic banner with the slogan “LGBT-free zone”. The photo was posted on social media by Dawid Dobrogowski, a member of the national council and vice-chairman of the Warsaw New Left.

The New Left activist's post was commented on by Warsaw councilor Agata Diduszko-Zyglewska, also from the Left. She appealed to the mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski and his deputy Renata Kaznowska “to react urgently and check what Polonia has done about this matter”. “There can be no place for such vile and discriminatory content at the Warsaw stadium,” the councilor wrote.

“Hate speech, regardless of the background, is unacceptable and inadmissible. Agreements concluded with sports clubs contain provisions specifying the consequences of such behavior. And they will be implemented,” Kaznowska replied.

The club itself also reacted, announcing consequences for the fan.

“Polonia Warszawa Sp. z o. o. Club strongly condemns all forms of discrimination. There is no and will never be permission for such behavior at our stadium. Our mission is to create a friendly and safe place for all fans, regardless of their origin, skin color, religion or sexual orientation,” it was emphasized on the X portal.

In a statement, the club's board assured that actions had been taken to identify those responsible for hanging the banner. Polonia also announced that such behavior would not be tolerated and that it would take all possible steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.