Bulgarian top-flight club Arda Kardzhali has issued an apology after mistakenly holding a minute’s silence for their former player, Petko Ganchev, whom they wrongly believed had passed away.
Ahead of their match against Levski Sofia in Bulgaria’s First League on Sunday, both teams lined up at the center of the field to pay respects to Ganchev. However, before the game ended, Arda posted a statement on Facebook, admitting their mistake.
“The management of PFC Arda would like to express a huge apology to the former Arda player Petko Ganchev and his relatives after the club received wrong information about his death,” the club wrote. “We wish Petko Ganchev many more years of good health and to enjoy the success of Arda.”
The game ended in a 1-1 draw, but the bizarre incident became the main talking point.
Ganchev later shared how he learned about the mistake. “I don’t miss a chance to watch Arda matches on TV. Now against Levski, I was late about 10 minutes because I had some work,” he told Bulgarian outlet Blitz. “While I was driving home, my phone started ringing a lot. But I’m driving and don’t dare to pick it up.
“I park in front of our house. I enter the yard, and my wife welcomes me in tears. She says: ‘Petko, Petko, on the television they announced that you had passed!’ I couldn’t understand what she was telling me and what had happened. She explained that they called her on the phone and told her what they heard was announced ahead of the match between Arda and Levski.”
Reflecting on the surreal experience, Ganchev added, “To bury you alive is very stressful. Truthfully, the situation was not pleasant, but at the end of the day, we have to be positive. Here, yesterday, when I heard the horrible news, I poured myself a small brandy,” he said with a smile.
