Two Polish referees were removed from their roles as VAR officials for a Champions League qualifier between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv after being arrested for stealing a road sign while intoxicated.
In a shocking turn of events, the VAR officials originally assigned to the Rangers vs. Dynamo Kyiv Champions League qualifier were arrested just hours before the match.
According to Polish media, TVP Sport Polish referees Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial were set to take charge of the VAR duties but were apprehended by police for allegedly stealing a road sign while under the influence of alcohol.
Senior Superintendent Kamil Golebiowski stated via daily record, "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 mille of alcohol in their blood. They were taken to a sobering-up centre."
Consequently, UEFA had to swiftly replace the VAR team, appointing Tomasz Kwiatkowski and Pawel Malec as replacements.
Dessers' injury-time equaliser gives Rangers Champions League belief
As for the match itself, Cyriel Dessers emerged as Rangers' hero, scoring a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser to secure a crucial 1-1 draw against Dynamo Kyiv in their Champions League qualifier.
The Scottish side had struggled to find their rhythm, especially after drawing blank in their domestic league opener. Dynamo, on the other hand, came into the match brimming with confidence after a resounding victory in the previous round.
Andriy Yarmolenko's first-half goal put the Ukrainian side in control, but Dessers' late strike kept Rangers' Champions League hopes alive. The tie is now evenly poised ahead of the second leg at Ibrox Stadium.
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