Arda Kardzhali Apologizes After Mistaking Player's Death

TDT | Manama

Email : hussianm@newsofbahrain.com

Bulgarian football club Arda Kardzhali issued an apology after mistakenly holding a minute's silence for their former player, Petko Ganchev, who is very much alive.

The 78-year-old Ganchev had returned home early during the first half of a match against Levski, only to find his wife in tears after watching the minute's silence broadcast on TV.

"I was about ten minutes late for the game because I had some work to do. As I drove home, my phone kept ringing, but I didn’t want to answer while driving," Ganchev explained. "When I entered the garden, my wife was crying and said, ‘Petko, Petko, they’ve announced on TV that you’ve passed away!’ I had no idea what she was talking about."

At halftime, the club sent an email to the TV station airing the match to correct the error and confirm that Ganchev was, in fact, still alive.

Arda Kardzhali’s management later issued an official statement: "The management of PFC Arda would like to offer a huge apology to Petko Ganchev and his family after the club received incorrect information about his death. We wish Petko many more years of good health and continued success with Arda."