Shadows on the pitch as season kicks off

After weeks of uncertainty, the Polish Ekstraklasa soccer league has officially kicked off. However, the suspicions of corruption which sullied last season continue to haunt Poland's soccer establishment.

When last season ended in June, soccer fans across Poland were happy to see it come to a close, despite the excitement of the championship, as corruption scandals overshadowed the events on the field. These scandals included charges of match-fixing and led to the arrest of more than 50 referees and officials, as well as the relegation of two clubs (Arka Gdynia and Górnik Łęczna). Allegations of corruption also hung over newly crowned champions Zagłębie Lubin.

Just days before the start of this season, three newcomers to the Poland's top division weren't certain if they would be allowed to play at all. Ruch Chorzów's debts reach zł.1.5 million and the club's failure to repay them led the Polish Football Association (PZPN) to initially withhold a license to play this season from the 14-time Polish champions. Both Polonia Bytom and Zagłębie Sosnowiec have stadiums that don't measure up to league standards, and the latter also faces corruption charges.

But PZPN's tough stance softened as the inauguration of the season approached. Ruch's new timetable for paying back its loan was accepted by the PZPN, while Polonia and Zagłębie were allowed to play their games in other club's stadiums. However, the corruption case involving Zagłębie will still proceed, meaning that punishment, if necessary, could come during the course of the season.