The 48th Tricity Derby ended in a 2:2 draw, although Arka Gdynia had already led by two goals. The match at the stadium in Gdynia, which attracted a record number of spectators, was overshadowed by huge controversies surrounding the decisions of referee Paweł Raczkowski. Representatives of the hosts directly speak of cheating, questioning the lack of a penalty kick, while Lechia celebrates a successful comeback and taking a valuable point from the territory of their local rival.

Refereeing scandal in Gdynia

Coach Dawid Szwarga and Arka's owner sharply criticize referee Paweł Raczkowski for not awarding a penalty kick.

Lechia's great comeback

Despite a two-goal deficit, the Gdańsk team led by John Carver managed to secure a 2:2 draw.

Record derby attendance

The match attracted an unprecedented number of spectators to the stadium, while maintaining calm in the stands.

Derby matches between Arka Gdynia and Lechia Gdańsk have always electrified fans, but the 48th edition of this rivalry will go down in history not only due to the sporting comeback of the guests from Gdańsk, but primarily because of an unprecedented wave of criticism directed at the referees. Arka, playing in front of their home crowd, imposed a high tempo at the start of the match, resulting in a 2:0 lead. The highlight of the match was a brilliant goal scored by a 19-year-old player, which ignited the stands and seemed to decide the outcome of the clash. Nevertheless, Lechia, led by coach John Carver, showed tremendous character. The Gdańsk side gradually clawed back the deficit, leading to an equalizer under dramatic circumstances, which Carver considered a fair result and the effect of a man-to-man talk in the locker room during halftime. The rivalry between Arka and Lechia is one of the oldest and most prestigious sporting conflicts in northern Poland, dating back to the 1960s, where the stakes are not only the league position but primarily regional hegemony.However, the main actor of the evening became referee Paweł Raczkowski. The coach of the Gdynia side, Dawid Szwarga, did not hide his fury, using a blunt comparison in which he assessed the referee's performance as equally terrible as the technical condition of the pitch surface. The bone of contention became a situation in the penalty area, where, according to Arka's representatives, a penalty kick was clearly due. The club's owner stated in an official communication that the team feels cheated, and players publicly began to question the purpose of the VAR system, which in their opinion failed at the most obvious moment. Sports media describe the situation as "stinking," which further heightens tension between the refereeing community and the Ekstraklasa clubs. „Sędzia dostosował się do jakości murawy.” (The referee adapted to the quality of the pitch.) — Dawid SzwargaDespite these tensions, police and organizers emphasize that the match proceeded without major incidents in the stands, which given the high temperature of the disputes is a significant organizational success. The record attendance confirmed that the Tricity Derby is a top-class marketing product, though the bad taste related to regulatory controversies will linger for a long time. In the league table, this result most benefits mid-table teams, such as Piast Gliwice, which recorded an advancement thanks to the rivals' stumbles. For both Tricity clubs, the draw is a bittersweet result: Arka squandered a chance for a historic victory, and Lechia, although satisfied with the point, still must fight to stabilize their form in the spring round.

Mentioned People

  • Dawid Szwarga — Coach of Arka Gdynia, a sharp critic of the refereeing level in the derby.
  • John Carver — English coach of Lechia Gdańsk, expressed satisfaction with the point earned.
  • Paweł Raczkowski — Football referee, whose decisions became the source of conflict after the match.