October 26th 2024.
UEFA has handed down bans to two match officials, Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial, after they were arrested for drunkenly stealing a road sign before a Champions League qualifier between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv. These officials, who are used to dishing out punishments, have now found themselves in hot water due to their own improper behavior.
According to police, Frankowski and Musial were caught on CCTV trying to carry the road sign with another person just hours before the match on August 6. The men were intoxicated and had over 1.5 per mille of alcohol in their blood. They were taken to a sobering-up center and received fines for their actions. As a result of violating "basic rules of decent conduct," the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has suspended them from officiating until June 2025.
Senior Superintendent Kamil Golebiowski of the Lublin City Police shared that they received a report of three men carrying a road sign down the street around 1:40am. Officers were dispatched to the scene and discovered the intoxicated men, leading to the arrests. Frankowski was supposed to be the video assistant referee for the game, while Musial was set to be his assistant. However, the Polish Football Association had to find replacements, Tomasz Kwiatkowski and Pawel Malec, at the last minute.
In a statement, Frankowski, who has previously officiated at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, expressed his regret and sorrow for his actions. He acknowledged that he had ruined his 22-year career as a referee with one mistake and that he should have focused on the match instead of engaging in foolish pranks. Frankowski also clarified that their actions were not aggressive and that they had no bad intentions, but rather it was just a "stupid joke."
Unfortunately, the pair's antics with the road sign had serious consequences, leading to a ban from UEFA. Frankowski admitted that it was not a smart idea and that they were simply passing by a sign that was lying near road works. He apologized for his irresponsible and unprofessional behavior and assured that he did not break any laws or act aggressively towards anyone.
Musial, in a separate statement, also apologized for his behavior and expressed regret towards those he has disappointed with his actions. He emphasized that this was the first incident of this kind involving him and that he has always tried to set a good example both on and off the pitch. Musial hopes to rehabilitate himself and regain the trust of others.
Both Frankowski and Musial were suspended by the Polish FA in August before UEFA's ban. The match between Dynamo Kyiv and Rangers ended in a 1-1 draw, but Rangers were ultimately defeated 2-0 in the second leg, resulting in a 3-1 aggregate victory for Dynamo.
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