Wisła Refuses to Host Shakhtar's Matches
Jarosław Królewski, president of Polish club Wisła Kraków, announced that the team will not allow Shakhtar Donetsk to play its home European matches at their stadium in the upcoming season. As a result, the Ukrainian side must now look for an alternative venue for its European fixtures.
During the previous Conference League campaign, Shakhtar held its home games at Kraków's Henryk Reyman Stadium. However, Królewski explained that organizing matches for other clubs demands considerable resources, time, and money—and under current circumstances, doing so is not in Wisła's best interest. He also emphasized that after enduring tough years and earning promotion back to Poland's top division, the club will now focus entirely on its own sporting and organizational goals.
'The club's priority is to develop its own brand, marketing, communications, and prepare for performances in the Polish championship following our return to the elite division.' Jarosław Królewski
Shakhtar's European Campaign
Shakhtar Donetsk has secured a spot in the group stage of the Champions League for the new season. Notably, both of this year's Champions League finalists—Arsenal from London and Paris Saint-Germain from France—qualified through their domestic achievements. Meanwhile, Olympiacos from Piraeus has lost its chance at the Greek Super League title, and Rangers from Glasgow will not claim the championship in Scotland.
Wisła's refusal to provide its stadium to Shakhtar significantly complicates the Ukrainian club's preparations for European competition, as it now urgently needs to find a new home ground. This decision also highlights how Polish clubs like Wisła are prioritizing their own interests and growth, which could affect future regional cooperation between teams.