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Two referees slapped with lengthy suspensions by UEFA after getting arrested for stealing road sign before Champions League match between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv

The unusual incident took place hours before a Champions League qualifying match between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv in Lublin, Poland, on August 6. Frankowski was scheduled to oversee the game’s VAR operations, with Musial acting as his assistant. However, the duo was arrested by local police and UEFA had to quickly substitute the pair, bringing in Tomasz Kwiatkowski and Pawel Malec to manage the VAR duties instead.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Lublin City Police Senior Superintendent Kamil Golebiowski provided insight into the events, recounting how police responded to a report in the early hours of August 6. “At around 1:40 am, we received a report of three men carrying a road sign down the street,” Golebiowski stated in an interview with TVP Sport."Police officers were dispatched to the scene. All of the men were intoxicated and had over 1.5 per mille of alcohol in their blood. They were taken to a sobering-up centre.”

WHAT LUBLIN POLICE SAID

Frankowski released a statement addressing the incident, expressing remorse and acknowledging the severe impact it would have on his reputation and career.He wrote: "I am still trying to find words that will sufficiently express how much I regret this incident and how sorry I am. I realise that with one such violation, I ruined 22 years of refereeing, ruined my entire career. It was stupidity, an idiotic fantasy, I don’t even know what to call it.“I should have calmly prepared for the match and not gone anywhere. 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. These were stupid jokes. We did not suspect that it would be perceived this way. We had no bad intentions.“The prank with this sign was a stupid game. Now, looking back, I understand that it was not a very smart idea. It was a sign that was lying next to where road works were being carried out. And we were passing by. I am very sorry that this happened. And on a purely human level, it was stupid, because I know that my unfortunate behaviour will cast a shadow on 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 emphasise that there were no acts of aggression in my behaviour, I did not break the law and there was no unlawful behaviour on my part towards police officers or anyone. I was not charged with any offence, I was only fined. I sincerely apologise to the Polish FA and I also apologise to my family. I understand the consequences that await me, but I hope that I will be able to rehabilitate myself.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Frankowski, who has been a staple at high-profile European events, served as a referee at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, with Musial often working alongside him in Poland’s Ekstraklasa and the Champions League, casting uncertainty over their future in officiating.

DID YOU KNOW?

UEFA has suspended both officials until June 30 as they intend to highlight this episode as a cautionary tale, highlighting that even a moment of poor judgment can have lasting, irreversible effects on one’s career and reputation in sports.

WHAT NEXT?

Two referees slapped with lengthy suspensions by UEFA after getting arrested for stealing road sign before Champions League match between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv | Goal.com

Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial have been handed a lengthy suspension by UEFA after they were arrested for allegedly trying to steal a road sign.