Mateusz Klich receives red card after late tackle in Wisła Kraków derby

Late Tackle and Red Card Ignite Holy War Melee

Mateusz Klich issued an apology after his late challenge from behind on Jeremy Guillemenot triggered a mass brawl during a derby between Wisła Kraków and Cracovia in the Ekstraklasa.

Passions boiled over in what is one of Polish football’s fiercest rivalries during the clash.

Chaos Erupts in the Closing Stages

The incident occurred while Wisła Kraków held a narrow 2-1 lead late in the match. Following a turnover, Guillemenot broke away toward the opposing goal before Klich intervened with a forceful tackle from behind.

The reckless challenge immediately ignited a bench-clearing confrontation, with players from both sides pushing and shoving on the pitch. The match referee brandished a red card to Klich, while a member of the Cracovia coaching staff also received a red card during the ensuing melee.

PASSIONS BOILED OVER IN THE HOLY WAR! ⚔️ A red card for Cracovia, tensions running high, and players pushing and shoving at the end of the derby. NEITHER SIDE WAS WILLING TO BACK DOWN! Wisła Kraków claimed victory in a rivalry clash packed with emotion. This is what one of Polish football’s fiercest rivalries looks like! Follow the #Ekstraklasa on @beINSPORTS! #WislaKrakow#Cracovia#WISCRA

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) November 6, 2026

Midfielder Expresses Deep Regret

Reflecting on the fiery conclusion to the derby, the 36-year-old midfielder expressed deep regret for losing his composure under the intense pressure of the local rivalry. Speaking about his actions after the final whistle, Klich acknowledged that his behavior fell short of professional standards.

“First of all, I would like to apologize. I woke up in a bad mood. It was stupid. I apologized to the player, I wrote to him. I lost my head. This kind of behavior does not suit me. There is nothing I can do about it, I can only apologize,” Klich said.

Emotions Boil Over in a Special Match

He added that while the intense atmosphere of the derby played a role, a player of his experience should have handled the situation differently.

“It was a stupid foul, I shouldn’t have done it, but it happened. An experienced player shouldn’t have done it, but I had no other choice to stop him. Football evokes strong emotions, and they got the better of me. This is a special match, there is no denying that. We really wanted to win. Maybe too much,” Klich continued.

Standings Shift After the Derby

The 2-1 victory lifts Wisła Kraków to fifth place in the Ekstraklasa standings.

Meanwhile, the defeat leaves Cracovia lingering dangerously close to the drop zone, sitting just three points above the relegation places as the league season progresses.