Szymon Marciniak

Szymon Marciniak is a Polish football referee born in Płock on 7 January 1981. He began refereeing in 2002 after previously playing football and progressed through Poland’s lower divisions before reaching the Ekstraklasa in 2009. His international career followed quickly. Marciniak joined the FIFA list in 2011, developed through UEFA’s Centre of Refereeing Excellence programme and was promoted to UEFA’s Elite referee group in 2015.

The Szymon Marciniak referee career reached an important early milestone when he was appointed to the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final. He then worked at UEFA EURO 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, while also becoming a regular appointment in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. In 2018, UEFA selected him to referee the Super Cup between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

His most significant appointment came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Marciniak became the first Polish referee to take charge of a men’s World Cup final, overseeing Argentina against France in Lusail. Less than six months later, UEFA appointed him to the 2023 Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter in Istanbul. He later returned to the European Championship at UEFA EURO 2024 and was selected for his third FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Marciniak’s officiating is closely associated with game management, communication and a strong on-field presence. PZPN has highlighted his ability to manage players and read the game, while Marciniak has explained that his background as a former player helps him understand frustration and choose when direct communication is useful.

As of 2026, Marciniak remains active as a main referee in domestic and international football, continuing to receive appointments in the Ekstraklasa and UEFA competition.