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Poland’s World Cup team ‘was promised up to £7.8 million in bonuses by their government, drawn from public finances, after reaching the round of 16 in Qatar… as the star Robert Lewandowski urges that the rewards be divided equally between the players’
- Poland’s team “has been promised up to £7.8 million in bonuses by their government”
- The rewards ‘were determined by the country’s success at the World Cup in Qatar’
- Poland reached the round of 16, their best result since 1986, before losing to France
- Captain Robert Lewandowski ‘disagreeed with plans to split the amount unequally’
- Bonuses, drawn from public finances, have caused a major scandal in Poland
The country’s government has reportedly promised the Polish World Cup team up to £7.8 million in bonuses, based on their success at the tournament in Qatar.
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is understood to have met with Czeslaw Michniewicz’s team last month to discuss bonus payments of between 30 and 50 million Polish zlotys (5.5 million British pounds and 7.8 million sterling), which were controversially removed from public finances.
Poland, which reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time since 1986, was left out of the tournament after its 3-1 loss to France on Sunday.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki ‘promised Poland’s World Cup team considerable bonuses’
According to the Polish media MeczykiMorawiecki met the players for dinner at a Hilton hotel on the eve of their flight to Qatar, in an attempt to discuss bonuses.
Talk of the attractive collective prize money reportedly died down during the early stages of the tournament, but resurfaced after Poland’s qualification from Group C, when coach Michniewicz investigated how the payout would be distributed among his players and staff.
It is believed that a handful of Poland’s stars wanted bonuses allocated based on minutes played in the tournament, but captain Robert Lewandowski reportedly disagreed with this plan, favoring a more even distribution of the pot.
Initially, the coaching staff would raise 10% of the fund until individuals later demanded a 20% split, prompting assistant coach Kamil Potrykus to become involved in talks ahead of Poland’s round of 16 clash with France.
Bonuses, drawn from public finances, could lead to dismissal of Czeslaw Michniewicz
Robert Lewandowski reportedly wanted the bonuses to be split fairly between players and staff.
These discussions reportedly angered Lewandowski, who felt that the team needed to fully focus on the upcoming knockout match.
The bonds were set up to circumvent the Polish federation (PZPN) and are believed to have angered President Cezary Kulesza.
The scandal could lead to the dismissal of Michniewicz, whose contract has not been extended despite Poland’s success in qualifying for the round of 16.
Due to the seismic nature of the scandal in Poland, none of the Polish players or coaches are expected to accept the reward.