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).
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.
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.
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