The President of the Polish Volleyball Federation, Sebastian Świderski, took an opposing stance to Gino Sirci in the heated debate over the future international calendar. While Italian clubs warn of serious consequences from moving major national team tournaments to winter, the head of the Polish federation sees the reform as an opportunity for better season organization.
In an interview with Interia Sport, Świderski confirmed his support for the discussed project of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), which envisages that from 2029, major national team championships will be held in December and January, instead of the traditional summer period.
According to him, the current system creates excessively long breaks for both clubs and national teams. The Polish leader points out that currently, leading players are absent from their clubs for five to six months, while national formations practically remain without official activity for a large part of the rest of the year.
35 weeks instead of 29–30
Świderski's most significant argument is related to the duration of the club calendar. According to his calculations, the new project will provide 35 weeks for club competitions instead of the current 29–30. This would allow for a more even distribution of matches and would limit the need for mid-week rounds.
The Polish president believes that some critics have not analyzed the proposed model in sufficient detail. He insists on dialogue between federations, leagues, and clubs, instead of the reform being rejected in advance.
Sirci warns of loss of spectators, sponsors, and revenue
His position sharply contrasts with that of Perugia president Gino Sirci, who spearheaded the #NoClubsNoVolley initiative.
The Italian businessman is convinced that interrupting national championships during the most active period of the season will inflict serious financial damage on clubs. Among his main concerns are reduced spectator interest, loss of sponsors, and disruption of the training process.
Sirci has already called on Polish clubs to join the resistance against the reform. In an interview with TVP Sport, he expressed bewilderment at the lack of a decisive reaction from the Polish league. Interestingly, among the participants in Perugia's press conference on October 29 was Polish international Kamil Semeniuk. The outside hitter publicly supported the concerns about the new calendar, warning of the additional physical and psychological strain on players. Thus, Semeniuk found himself in an opposing position to the president of his own national federation, Sebastian Świderski. However, the fact that the Pole defended the position of the club with which he has a contract and which pays his salary cannot be ignored. Whether this is entirely a personal conviction, or if club affiliation also influences his public stance, remains an open question.
Meanwhile, two presidents of leading clubs from the women's TAURON Liga have declined official comment to Interia.
Bulgarian clubs have already chosen a side
Unlike the leadership of the Polish federation, Bulgarian clubs Levski and Neftochimic 2010 have already officially joined Perugia's initiative.
As VolleyWeek reported on October 29, champion Levski supported the campaign after familiarizing themselves with the organizers' arguments, and subsequently Neftochimic also confirmed its participation with an official letter to Gino Sirci.
Italian club Modena also joined the protests, placing special emphasis on the danger of injuries due to the disruption of the preparation and recovery rhythm. Meanwhile, the front against the FIVB's proposed reform continues to expand. Piacenza also joined the #NoClubsNoVolley initiative, launched by Perugia president Gino Sirci. Other leading Italian clubs, including Milano, Verona, and Trento, have already expressed support. Thus, Świderski's position increasingly contrasts with the growing resistance of clubs, who warn that moving international tournaments to winter could jeopardize their financial stability, the normal course of championships, and the physical condition of players.
Świderski also sees disadvantages
Despite his support for the project, the Polish president does not believe that all proposals are appropriate. One of his objections is against placing the Club World Championship at the end of the season. According to him, the tournament would be more suitable for the beginning of the club campaign.
Świderski also emphasizes that the eventual introduction of the new calendar will require much closer cooperation between clubs, leagues, and national federations, with the health of the players remaining a top priority.
Bulgaria has already won medals from major tournaments in December
Interestingly, holding major international tournaments at the end of the calendar year is far from unprecedented. Bulgarian volleyball has two of its most memorable successes precisely during this period. On December 3, 2006, on the birthday of coach Martin Stoev, the national team won bronze medals at the World Championship in Japan. A year later, on December 2, again in the Land of the Rising Sun, Bulgaria finished third at the World Cup and secured an Olympic quota for Beijing 2008. Both tournaments were held in November and early December – a period that today is once again at the center of the dispute over the international calendar.
For now, FIVB's proposal continues to be subject to consultations. However, the opposing positions of the Polish Volleyball Federation and leading European clubs show that the dispute is no longer just about the dates of international tournaments. It is about the distribution of time, financial resources, and influence between club and national volleyball.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov