One of the officials has released a statement
- Published: 14:31, 26 Oct 2024
- Updated: 14:31, 26 Oct 2024
UEFA person banned 2 referees for drunkenly taking a roadworthy motion earlier a Champions League clash.
Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial were arrested successful the Polish metropolis of Lubin backmost successful August.
The brace had been appointed arsenic VAR and AVAR officials for the 3rd qualifying circular necktie betwixt Dynamo Kyiv and Rangers.
However, they were replaced by the Polish FA pursuing their drunken antics the nighttime earlier the match.
Police caught the 2 referees connected CCTV earlier arresting them, with Uefa fining them astatine the time.
Frankowski and Musial person present some been handed lengthy bans for their behaviour.
They person been suspended until June 30, 2025 by Uefa's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.
Their punishment is for breaking "basic rules of decent conduct", the governing assemblage confirmed.
In a statement, Frankowski said: "I americium inactive trying to find words that volition sufficiently explicit however overmuch I regret this incidental and however atrocious I am.
"I realise that with 1 specified violation, I ruined 22 years of refereeing, ruined my full career. I should person calmly prepared for the lucifer and not gone anywhere.
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"As 1 of the constabulary officers aboriginal told me, our prank was spotted by CCTV cameras and they intervened. I would similar to clarify that we were successful nary mode aggressive. These were anserine jokes.
"We did not fishy that it would beryllium perceived this way. We had nary atrocious intentions. It was stupidity, an idiotic fantasy, I don’t adjacent cognize what to telephone it."
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He besides claimed the incidental was simply a "prank" and had been a "stupid game" that went wrong.
The 38-year-old, who is simply a Fifa referee, added: "Now, looking back, I recognize that it was not a precise astute idea.
"It was a motion that was lying adjacent to wherever roadworthy works were being carried retired and we were passing by.
"I americium precise atrocious that this happened. And connected a purely quality level, it was stupid, due to the fact that I cognize that my unfortunate behaviour volition formed a shadiness connected galore years of hard work.
"What happened was irresponsible and unprofessional connected my part, and I americium afloat alert of that.
"I would conscionable similar to emphasise that determination were nary acts of aggression successful my behaviour, I did not interruption the instrumentality and determination was nary unlawful behaviour connected my portion towards constabulary officers oregon anyone."