Two Champions League referees 'handed huge suspensions' after being 'arrested' ahead of European qualifier

Two Champions League referees have reportedly been handed significant suspensions by UEFA after they were arrested before Rangers' qualifying round clash against Dynamo Kiev earlier this year.

The match, which finished 1-1, was due to be officiated by Polish referee Bartosz Frankowski, who officiates in Poland's Ekstraklasa and has been a FIFA referee since 2014.

But hours before the fixture was due to get underway in Lublin, Poland, Frankowski was replaced by Lithuanian official Donatas Rumsas.

Polish outlet TVP Sport reported that Frankowski, along with assistant referee Tomasz Musial and an unnamed third man, were arrested after they were caught stealing a road sign.

They were arrested at 1:43am and charged with 'destroying road infrastructure'. Both Frankowski and Musial were said to have had alcohol in their system.

A police statement read: "At around 1:40am, 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 mile of alcohol in their blood. They were taken to a sobering-up centre."

Now, according to TVP Sport, the Polish FA have decided to punish the two officials with five-month bans from football, with a further seven months suspended for a period of two years.

They will have also previously received a small fine as Polish authorities charge for the use of their sobering-up centre.

A press release said to be from the Polish FA reads: "The commission decided to:

"- Recognise the liability of Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial for the alleged act.

"- Impose a basic penalty on each of the accused judges - a disqualification penalty of one year, partially suspending the execution of the above-mentioned disqualification penalty; i.e. each of the accused will serve the imposed disqualification penalty of five months, while the execution of the remaining part of the disqualification penalty, i.e. seven months, is suspended is suspended for a probation period of two years."

Both officials have also each been fined PLN 25,000 (around £5,000).

SPORTbible has reached out to the Polish Football Association for comment but they are yet to respond.