Polish politician wants to strip Podolski of Polish passport
Polish parliamentarian Miroslaw Orzechowski has said he wants to revoke Lukas Podolski’s Polish citizenship after he led Germany to a 2-0 win against Poland on Sunday. But the footballer says he doesn't even have a Polish passport.
The head of the Polish national Catholic party, The League of Polish Families (LPR), told a Polish radio station that he would take legal action to strip Podolski’s citizenship if President Lech Kaczynski doesn’t comply with his demands, German daily Bild reported Wednesday.
Orzechowski said normal Polish law doesn’t allow dual citizenship, but Bild suggested that his statements had more to do with 23-year-old Polish-born striker’s stunning performance against Poland for the German team in the country’s first Euro 2008 match.
But several Polish politicians were outraged by Orzechowski’s statements. Elzbieta Jakubiak, member of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism called them “sick,” Bild reported.
"The joke is, I don't even have a Polish passport," Podolski told Cologne daily tabloid Express on Wednesday in response to the Bild article. "The Polish football league has never paid attention to me," he added.
After the match on Sunday, Podolski said he had somewhat mixed feelings after sending his native land packing, news agency AFP reported. "We did the essential in winning our opener, but this victory does not over enthuse me as I am originally from Poland. All my family is over there. I have two hearts - a German one and a Polish one!"
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The head of the Polish national Catholic party, The League of Polish Families (LPR), told a Polish radio station that he would take legal action to strip Podolski’s citizenship if President Lech Kaczynski doesn’t comply with his demands, German daily Bild reported Wednesday.
Orzechowski said normal Polish law doesn’t allow dual citizenship, but Bild suggested that his statements had more to do with 23-year-old Polish-born striker’s stunning performance against Poland for the German team in the country’s first Euro 2008 match.
But several Polish politicians were outraged by Orzechowski’s statements. Elzbieta Jakubiak, member of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism called them “sick,” Bild reported.
"The joke is, I don't even have a Polish passport," Podolski told Cologne daily tabloid Express on Wednesday in response to the Bild article. "The Polish football league has never paid attention to me," he added.
After the match on Sunday, Podolski said he had somewhat mixed feelings after sending his native land packing, news agency AFP reported. "We did the essential in winning our opener, but this victory does not over enthuse me as I am originally from Poland. All my family is over there. I have two hearts - a German one and a Polish one!"
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