close
close

Apre-salomemanzo

Breaking: Beyond Headlines!

    • Two referees suspended by UEFA for drunkenly stealing road sign before Champions League match | Soccer
    aecifo

    Two referees suspended by UEFA for drunkenly stealing road sign before Champions League match | Soccer

    Umito Posted on


    Bartosz Frankowski
    Bartosz Frankowski has been suspended by UEFA until June 2025 (Photo: Getty)

    Two match referees have been hit with lengthy bans by UEFA after being arrested for drunkenly stealing a street sign ahead of the Rangers match. Champions League qualifier with Dynamo Kyiv.

    While Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial have both made careers out of dishing out punishment, the duo managed to find themselves in a very tricky situation on the drunken night before the European competition.

    Police said Frankowski and Musial were captured on CCTV attempting to carry the said road sign with another individual just hours before kick-off in Lublin, Poland on August 6, following reports of “inappropriate behavior”.

    The two Poles then received fines and have now been suspended from their functions until June 30, 2025 for having violated the “fundamental rules of good conduct” set by the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body of the UEFA.

    “Around 1:40 a.m. we received a report that three men were carrying a road sign on the street,” Lublin City Police Senior Superintendent Kamil Golebiowski told TVP Sport immediately afterwards.

    “Police officers were dispatched to the scene. All the men were drunk and had more than 1.5 percent alcohol in their blood. They were taken to a sobering up center.

    Frankowski was to take on the role of video assistant referee for the match, while Musial was to act as an assistant. But the Polish Football Federation was forced to quickly call on Tomasz Kwiatkowski and Pawel Malec to replace them in their positions.


    Tomasz Musial
    Tomasz Musial later apologized for his behavior (Photo: Getty)

    “I am still trying to find words that will sufficiently express how much I regret this incident and how sorry I am,” Frankowski – who officiated at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 – said in a statement .

    “I realize that with such a violation, I ruined 22 years of refereeing, ruined my entire career. I should have prepared for the match calmly and not gone anywhere.

    “As one of the police officers told me later, our prank was spotted by CCTV cameras and they intervened. I want to make it clear that we were in no way aggressive. They were stupid jokes.

    “We had no idea it would be perceived this way. We had no bad intentions. It was nonsense, a stupid fantasy, I don’t even know what to call it.


    Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv
    Dynamo Kyiv beat Rangers 3-1 on aggregate (Photo: Getty)

    According to Frankowski, the two men’s roadside antics were just a “prank” and a “stupid game” gone wrong.

    “Now, looking back, I understand that it wasn’t a very smart idea. It was a sign that was next to where roadworks were going on and we were passing,” he said. -he added.

    “I’m really sorry this happened. And on a purely human level, it was stupid, because I know that my unfortunate behavior will cast a shadow over many years of hard work.

    “What happened was irresponsible and unprofessional on my part, and I am fully aware of that. I would just like to emphasize that there was no act of aggression in my behavior, that I did not did not break the law and that there was no illegal behavior on my part towards police officers or anyone else.


    Bartosz Frankowski
    Frankowski has already officiated at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 (Photo: Getty)

    In a separate statement, Musial said: “I apologize wholeheartedly to the authorities of the Polish Football Federation, in particular to the College of Referees, to the authorities of Ekstraklasa and to all those whom I have disappointed with my attitude.

    “This is the first such incident involving me. For many years of my professional career as a referee, I worked hard to get to where I am today.

    “At the same time, I have always tried to set an example, on and off the field. I am aware of the consequences that await me, but I hope that I can rehabilitate myself and regain your trust.

    Frankowski and Musial were suspended by the Polish FA in August, before UEFA’s ban.

    The match in question between Dynamo Kyiv and Rangers ended 1-1 after Cyriel Dessers scored a last-gasp equalizer for the Scottish Premiership side away.

    However, Rangers were beaten 2–0 in the second leg at Ibrox the following week, meaning Dynamo secured a 3–1 aggregate victory.

    For more stories like this, check out our sports page.

    Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
    Facebook, Twitter And Instagram    .

    MORE : Manchester United consider hiring Premier League boss to replace Erik ten Hag

    MORE : Sergio Aguero names his three ‘favorites’ to win the Champions League

    MORE : Fabio Capello urges Bayern Munich star to retire after Barcelona defeat

    Umito
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like