VAR officials initially selected for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League qualification clash between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv were reportedly arrested just hours before the affair.
The shocking news emerged from Lublin in Poland where Rangers locked horns with Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv.
Experienced Polish referee Bartosz Frankowski was initially appointed as VAR for the encounter, with fellow official Tomasz Musial picked as his assistant.
Why VAR Bartosz Frankowski and AVAR Tomasz Musial Missed Rangers Vs Dynamo Kyiv UEFA Champions League Game?
However, the pair were dramatically removed from the game after astonishing details emerged from Poland.
Based on reports from Polish media outlet TVP Sport, Frankowski and Musial alongside a third individual were caught allegedly stealing a road sign by police in the early hours of Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
Both officials were said to have been apprehended at 1.43am in the morning local time for demolishing road infrastructure.
The arrested individuals were reported to have been intoxicated and subsequently taken to a sobering-up location.
What Exactly Occurred?
Senior Superintendent Kamil Golebiowski is quoted to have narrated the incident, saying: “At around 1:40 a.m. we received a report of three men carrying a road sign down the street.
“Police officers were dispatched to the scene. All of the men were intoxicated and had over 1.5 per milligrams of alcohol in their blood. They were taken to a sobering-up center.”
Moreover, TVP claim they have contacted the head of Polish refereeing for a comment, however, he was unaware of the incident.
Usually, the refereeing team for Uefa matches are always revealed 48 hours before the game.
On Sunday, August 4, 2024, Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas was confirmed to be leading the officials.
Rangers Vs Dynamo Kyiv
The 36-year-old indeed took charge of the encounter, as Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv played out a 1-1 draw in Poland.
Andriy Yarmolenko put the Kyiv-based side ahead in the 37th minute before Cyriel Dessers equalized 4 minutes into stoppage time of the second half.
Which Referees Replaced Them?
Top Polish referee Tomasz Kwiatkowski replaced Bartosz Frankowski as the VAR, with Pawel Malec coming in as assistant VAR, in place of Tomasz Musial.
Who Is Bartosz Frankowski?
Bartosz is a Polish football referee who officiates in the Ekstraklasa and he was born on September 23, 1986.
The 37-year-old has been officiating since 2008 and he handled matches in the third tier of the Polish football pyramid between that year and 2015.
In 2010, Bartosz Frankowski also started refereeing matches in the second division of the Polish football league system, before he was handed the chance to adjudicate the top-flight from 2012 till date.
He has been a FIFA referee since 2014 and is ranked as a UEFA first-category referee.
Who Is Tomasz Musial?
Musial is a Polish association football referee born on February 19, 1981, in Hereford, United Kingdom.
The 43-year-old resides in Kraków, Poland, and he has been active since 2008.
Tomasz Musial has also been listed as a FIFA referee since 2014. Meanwhile, he has been officiating in the top tier of the Polish football pyramid since 2011 till present.
He has also adjudicated several high-profile friendlies and cup competitions alongside a Saudi Pro League game between Al-Ettifaq FC and Al-Taawoun FC on November 24, 2018.
Tomasz Musial is the son of the late football player and Polish national team player Adam Musial, who played for clubs like Arka Gdynia and Wisla Krakow.
