A Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has been officially suspended after being caught on live television seemingly browsing a betting site.
The incident reportedly occurred just minutes before kick-off in a Bulgarian league match between CSKA Sofia and Lokomotiv Sofia, raising serious concerns about professionalism and integrity.
The suspension followed the circulation of footage on social media, prompting Hawk-Eye Innovations, the organisation responsible for the VAR system in the Bulgarian First League, to report the matter to the Bulgarian Football Union.
After conducting an investigation, Hawk-Eye Innovations released a statement to the Bulgarian Football Union, urging the league to investigate the official involved.
The statement read, “Hawk-Eye Innovations acknowledges with regret an incident involving one of its VAR operators during the Parva Liga match between PFC CSKA-Sofia and PFC Lokomotiv Sofia on Wednesday evening (2nd April 2025).
“Live footage from the VAR operations room documented the individual using a personal smartphone during the match and appearing to engage in inappropriate activities, which would constitute gross misconduct in relation to the responsibilities of their assigned role.”
The statement further revealed that the referee risks losing their job if found guilty.
“If the individual is found to have engaged in such inappropriate activity, we will move to dismiss them in accordance with their contractual terms,” it added.
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