Pogoń Szczecin owner Alex Haditaghi has publicly endorsed Legia Warsaw president Dariusz Mioduski to become the next president of world football governing body FIFA.
Haditaghi called on Polish football authorities and European governing body UEFA to unite behind Mioduski as a candidate to succeed current FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The public backing follows media reports suggesting that Mioduski could emerge as UEFA's candidate in the upcoming FIFA presidential election. Writing on his official profile on social media platform X, Haditaghi described Mioduski as an outstanding candidate for one of the most important leadership positions in global sports.
Haditaghi stated that Poland has many reasons to be proud of its football and argued that Mioduski should represent the nation on the international stage. He added that the time had come for Polish football and UEFA to support Mioduski and replace Infantino, whom Haditaghi described as corrupt and dirty.
Executive credentials and Legia Warsaw leadership
In his statement, Haditaghi praised Mioduski's education and professional qualifications, noting that the Legia Warsaw leader graduated from one of the top universities in the world. He described Mioduski as an educated, intelligent, eloquent, sophisticated, and experienced executive who is deeply passionate about football.
Mioduski, a Harvard-educated businessman and lawyer, has served as the owner and president of Legia Warsaw, one of Poland's most successful and prominent football clubs competing in the top tier Ekstraklasa. Haditaghi specifically addressed Legia supporters, telling them that they were fortunate to have Mioduski leading their club.
Haditaghi noted that managing an organization of Legia Warsaw's size is easy to criticise from the outside but exceptionally difficult to execute from within. He also highlighted Mioduski's interpersonal skills, describing him as a polite and highly intelligent leader.
National governance and Polish football association
Looking at the broader future of Polish sports governance, Haditaghi argued that figureheads should look beyond domestic improvements and focus on identifying leaders capable of representing Poland at the highest levels of global football. He expressed his desire to see the entire country unite, support, and lobby for Mioduski if an opportunity to lead FIFA arises.
Should a presidential campaign for FIFA not materialise, Haditaghi stated that Mioduski would have his full backing for another major leadership role. He confirmed that Mioduski would receive his vote for the presidency of the Polish Football Association, known as PZPN, the governing body responsible for domestic football and the Polish national team.
Haditaghi concluded his statement by reaffirming his support for Mioduski and tagging his post with the hashtag #MioduskiForFIFA to underline his belief that the Legia chief is well suited to replace Infantino at the head of world football.
Background on global and Polish football bodies
The proposal involves key institutions across domestic and international football. FIFA, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, oversees global football and organizes major international tournaments, with Infantino serving as president since 2016. UEFA governs European football from Nyon, Switzerland, overseeing continental club and national competitions.
Domestically, Legia Warsaw remains one of the premier clubs in Poland's top league, the Ekstraklasa. Pogoń Szczecin, owned by Iranian-Canadian entrepreneur Alex Haditaghi, is also a top tier Polish club based in Szczecin. The Polish Football Association oversees domestic league structures and national team operations from Warsaw.
