National stadium chief quits

17th February 2012

Another cloud moved in to hover over preparations for the 2012 European football championship after the head of the national stadium quit just four months before kickoff.

Rafal Kapler, chief of National Sports Centre, the body responsible for building and running the national stadium, gave no explanation other than it was time to move on having been in charge since 2008.

“I am not giving up I just realised that it would be better for the project if I resigned. I’m hoping that it will provide a breath of fresh air and calm the atmosphere surrounding it,” said Mr Kapler, adding that quitting had been the “worst day of his life”.

The sudden resignation came just days after the Polish government conceded that some of the transport infrastructure planned for the tournament would not be ready in time.

Joanna Mucha, the sports minister, reacted to the news, saying that she had “agreed to accept his resignation”, and that she “would like to thank him for his efforts”.

But the minister’s diplomatic grace failed to scotch rumours that she had demanded his sacking owing to problems still plaguing the red and white national football stadium in Warsaw.

The stadium had been due to host its inaugural match on February 11 between club giants Legia Warszawa and Wisla Krakow but the match was called off after failing to meet safety standards demanded by the emergency services.

The cancellation was the latest to occur at the stadium. Although it officially opened for business on January 29, the opening had already been put back twice, and these problems had piled pressure on the stadium’s chief.

Ms Mucha also said she was withholding a bonus written into Mr Kapler’s contract totalling an estimated PLN 570,000, although PLN 228,000 of this is, apparently, dependent on a successful tournament.  

“I have recommended that the bonus be withheld,” said Ms Mucha before the parliamentary sports committee, adding that she considered the original contract drawn up for Mr Kapler as “not a good contract”.

But although the vast bonus raised eyebrows given the apparent problems with the national stadium, experts pointed out it may be legally difficult to deny Mr Kapler the money without breaking the contract. In his defence the former national stadium boss also stated that the project had been built in just 32 months and come in under budget.

The furore surrounding the resignation piled more pressure on Ms Mucha, who has endured a torrid time since arriving at the sports ministry in November. She has comes to blows with the Polish Football Association and opposition politicians have questioned her competence.