Jagiellonia Białystok head coach Adrian Siemieniec will find out his disciplinary punishment by the end of the week following an investigation into text messages sent to a referee regarding player cards, according to Polish media reports.
The Ekstraklasa Disciplinary Commission is currently completing the formal justification for its decision after gathering supplementary evidence and conducting additional witness hearings.
The inquiry stems from what Polish football commentators labeled an SMS scandal in September, when details emerged of communication between Siemieniec and match referee Pawel Raczkowski concerning bookings given to Jagiellonia players.
Reporting by TVP Sport revealed that the Polish Football Association, known as the PZPN, also examined whether the contact constituted an act of corruption. The league disciplinary panel subsequently focused its investigation on the exact nature of the relationship between the manager and the referee.
Disciplinary investigation and potential sanctions
The Ekstraklasa Disciplinary Commission is expected to cite Article 110 of the PZPN Disciplinary Regulations in its final ruling. The second clause of the article states that breaches of the Coaching Convention, as well as other domestic or international rules, can trigger disciplinary penalties.
Under the first clause of the article, available sanctions range from financial fines, suspensions, and disqualifications to revoking coaching qualifications, banning individuals from all football-related activities, and complete exclusion from PZPN structures.
TVP Sport reported that panel members are unlikely to impose the most severe penalties available in the regulations. Instead, the commission intends to issue an educational sentence designed to serve as a clear warning to other managers across Polish football.
The PZPN acts as the governing authority for football in Poland, overseeing legal frameworks, national teams, and disciplinary procedures across all professional divisions. The Ekstraklasa forms the top tier of the Polish league system, featuring 18 clubs competing for the national title.
Siemieniec response and managerial record
Siemieniec previously addressed the controversy in an official public statement released shortly after the communications came to light. He acknowledged making a mistake and accepted that his actions deserved criticism from fans and experts.
The coach expressed disappointment in himself for letting people down, but stated that it was difficult to remain silent while facing severe online hate and public lynching directed at himself and his family.
Siemieniec has managed Jagiellonia Białystok in 166 matches to date. During his time in charge of the Białystok-based club, he has recorded 83 wins, 41 draws, and 42 defeats.
Ekstraklasa standings and upcoming fixtures
Jagiellonia Białystok currently occupy 10th place in the Ekstraklasa table, having gathered 12 points from their first eight league fixtures of the campaign.
The club will return to domestic action following the international break on 10 October at 20.15 local time, when they host league leaders Górnik Zabrze.
