Zbigniew Boniek, the former UEFA vice-president, has praised the new hairstyle of Polish Football Association (PZPN) president Cezary Kulesza, days after appearing to mock him online for what he suggested was a hair transplant.
Boniek's comments began with a post on the social media platform X on Saturday morning, written after a trip to Wroclaw for the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Lower Silesian Regional Football Association. He described a 12-hour visit to "beautiful Wroclaw," praising the nice people, the good organisation and the chance to meet old colleagues and on-pitch rivals after many years. He added a postscript noting that Kulesza had also been there, sporting a new, Turkish hairstyle, a remark widely read as a reference to a hair transplant procedure.
Boniek's history with Kulesza
Boniek, who does not hide his lack of sympathy for Kulesza, has criticised the PZPN president several times this year, including over the way Kulesza announced the contract extension of national team coach Jan Urban, and over a proposal to introduce a limit on the number of foreign players allowed in Polish club squads.
This time, the target was Kulesza's appearance rather than his decisions. The broadcaster Kanał Sportowy picked up the story on its programme, showing side-by-side photographs of the PZPN president from the past and the present. The comparison made clear that Kulesza, who previously had a visibly receding hairline, now has notably fuller hair.
Boniek changes his tune
A screenshot from the segment later circulated on social media, prompting a follow-up comment from Boniek. He wrote that he had to admit the new look suited Kulesza completely.
Former goalkeeper Rafał Gikiewicz, who played for Augsburg and Widzew Łódź during his career, also weighed in on Kanał Sportowy. He said that how a person is seen matters, adding that Kulesza holds a very important position and that a representative presence counts.
