Rangers’ clash with Dynamo Kyiv thrown into chaos as VAR officials ARRESTED just hours before Champions League showdown

THE VAR officials for Rangers’ Champions League clash have reportedly been arrested for stealing a ROAD SIGN just hours before the crucial showdown.

The shocking news is emerging from Lublin in Poland where Rangers are taking on Dynamo Kyiv in European action tonight.

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Bartosz Frankowski has been removed as VAR[/caption]

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Tomasz Musial has also reportedly been arrested[/caption]

Experienced Polish referee Bartosz Frankowski was initially appointed as VAR for the match, with fellow official Tomasz Musial backing him up on assistant VAR duties.

However, both officials have now dramatically been REMOVED from the game after incredible details emerged from Poland.

TVP Sport are reporting that Frankowski and Musial – and a third individual – were caught allegedly stealing a ROAD SIGN by police in the early hours of the morning.

They’re reporting that both officials were arrested at 1.43am in the morning local time for ‘destroying road infrastructure.’

The men, who are reported as being intoxicated, were then taken to a sobering-up centre.

Senior Superintendet Kamil Golebiowski is quoted as 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 centre.” 

TVP say they approached the head of Polish refereeing for a comment, but he was unaware of the situation.

However, both officials have been removed by Uefa for the match.

As always for Uefa matches, the refereeing team was confirmed 48 hours before the match.

On Sunday night, Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas was confirmed to be leading the officials.

Polish officials Frankowski and Musial were listed as his VAR officials.

However, neither Frankowski or Musial are listed as part of the officiating team any longer.

Instead, fellow top flight Polish ref Tomasz Kwiatkowski is now the VAR, with Pawel Malec his AVAR.

Frankowski, 37, is one of the top referees in Poland an experienced international referee.

FIFA-listed for ten years, he was an official at both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 – acting as VAR in the latter.