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UEFA imposes huge bans on two referees after drunkenly taking a road sign ahead of Champions League clash
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UEFA imposes huge bans on two referees after drunkenly taking a road sign ahead of Champions League clash

UEFA has suspended two referees for drunkenly taking a road sign before a Champions League match.

Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial were arrested in the Polish town of Lubin in August.

UEFA banned Polish referee Bartosz Frankowski after he took a sign while drunk

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UEFA banned Polish referee Bartosz Frankowski after he took a sign while drunkCredit: Getty
Tomasz Musial was also suspended following the Lubin incident in August.

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Tomasz Musial was also suspended following the Lubin incident in August.Credit: Getty

The couple was named VAR and AVAR officials for the third qualifying round between Dynamo kyiv and Rangers.

However, they were replaced by the Polish FA following their drunken antics the day before the match.

The police filmed the two referees on CCTV before arresting them. UEFA fining them at the time.

Both Frankowski and Musial have now received lengthy bans for their behavior.

They were suspended until June 30, 2025 by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.

Their sanction concerns non-compliance with “fundamental rules of decent conduct”, the governing body confirmed.

In a statement, Frankowski said: “I am still trying to find words that will sufficiently express how much I regret this incident and how sorry I am.

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

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“As one of the police officers later told me, our prank was spotted by CCTV cameras and they intervened. I would like to clarify that we were in no way aggressive. They were stupid pranks .

“We didn’t suspect it would be perceived that way. We didn’t have bad intentions. It was stupidity, a silly fantasy, I don’t even know what to call it.”

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He also claimed that the incident was just a “prank” and that it was a “stupid game” gone wrong.

The 38-year-old man, who is a FIFA referee, added: “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 where we were passing.

“I am very sorry that 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 break the law and that there was no illegal behavior on my part towards police officers or anyone.”

Frankowski admits incident was a 'stupid game' gone wrong

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Frankowski admits incident was a ‘stupid game’ gone wrongCredit: Getty