A Video Assistant Referee (VAR) official has got into serious trouble after he was seen scrolling through a betting site live on TV.
The Bulgarian official was reportedly spotted using the site just moments before the game between CSKA Sofia and Lokomotiv Sofia began. He has been suspended after footage of the incident spread on social media.
Hawk-Eye Innovations, the company in charge of VAR in the Bulgarian First League, explained their decision in a letter to the Bulgarian Football Union.
They wrote:
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 yesterday evening (2nd April 2025).
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Live footage from the camera situation in the VAR operations room documented the individual utilising 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.
A VAR official has been suspended after appearing to scroll through a BETTING SITE on live TV! ????
— The Sun Football ? (@TheSunFootball) April 4, 2025
Unbelievable! ???? pic.twitter.com/KOj2S3ydpl
The company confirmed they would fully investigate the matter during the official’s suspension, as reported by NeedToKnow.
They added:
If the individual has been found to have been engaging in such inappropriate activity, we will look to dismiss the individual in accordance with their contractual terms.
Fans were left shocked by the situation.
Tottenham boss slams VAR
Meanwhile, in England, Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou once again voiced his anger at VAR following a controversial decision in his team’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
During the match, Spurs midfielder Pape Matar Sarr thought he had equalised with a powerful shot from outside the box.
He had won the ball and struck it clean into the net. But after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was ruled out for a foul on Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo in the build-up.
After the match, Postecoglou didn’t hide his frustration with how VAR is being used in the Premier League.
What is the point of having a referee then? Clear and obvious means the referee should see it straight away. But they stood around for so long. Soon, AI will referee the game, and we won’t even need players anymore. Someone will find a way to have a football game with no people because referees aren’t making decisions.
????? "We just scored, I just wanted to hear them cheer"
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 3, 2025
Ange Postecoglou says it's "incredible how things are interpreted" after being asked about cupping his ear to the Spurs fans ? pic.twitter.com/QCZVhQiQ2F
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There were also claims that Postecoglou had reacted to boos from the home fans after the disallowed goal. He explained that people misunderstood what had really happened.
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