Scandal in Poland

Before CL match: Drunken referees steal traffic sign

Two Polish referees are said to have stolen a traffic sign while under the influence of alcohol before their scheduled assignment in a Champions League qualifying match. 

Together with another man, they ended up in a drunk tank, as reported by TVP Sport with reference to the police in Lublin, Poland. Both were due to work as assistant referees at the match between Dynamo Kiev and Glasgow Rangers in Lublin on Tuesday evening.

Ukrainian teams play their European Cup home games at the Lublin stadium (including Luhansk's home game against Maccabi Tel Aviv in November 2023).(Bild: AFP)

The European Football Union did not initially comment on the incident when asked; other referees were assigned to the match at short notice. Poland's soccer association PZPN announced that the situation was being analyzed.

Drunken referees carried away traffic signs
According to the local police, there were reports from passers-by early on Tuesday morning that three men were carrying away a traffic sign in the center of Lublin. "Police officers went to the scene. The men were tested with a breathalyzer. It turned out that they were heavily intoxicated," a police spokesman told the broadcaster. They are being investigated for destroying traffic infrastructure.

The PZPN association said it would "conduct a detailed analysis of the situation in connection with reports of inappropriate behavior by two Ekstraklasa referees who were to be used in the Champions League qualifier between Dynamo Kyiv and Glasgow Rangers". If the allegations are confirmed, the company will request the termination of their contracts.