A FOOTBALL club suffered an embarrassing mix-up as they held a minute’s silence for a former player who wasn’t actually dead.
Arda Kardzhali and Levski Sofia paid their respects to 25-year-old Petko Ganchev before their Bulgarian First League clash.
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Both teams could be seen in their centre circle with heads bowed to remember the former Arda star, who it turned out was still alive.
And at half time, Arda sent an email to the television station broadcasting the match to state to confirm that Ganchev was still alive.
A club statement then read: “Dear journalists and fans of the Arda team.
“The management of PFC Arda would like to express its deepest apologies to the team’s former footballer, Petko Ganchev, and his loved ones, after the club received incorrect information regarding his death.
“We wish Petko Ganchev many years of health and to enjoy Arda’s successes.”
The two sides would go on to play out a 1-1 draw, which kept the hosts’ chances of qualifying for the Championship group and achieving a European place alive.
Visitors Levski remained in second place but their title hopes look all but over as they trail leaders Ludogorets by 12 points.
However, the draw was no disaster for them in the circumstances.
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After taking the lead, Levski conceded a penalty which was missed.
And they had to play out the last 20 minutes of the game with ten men after Jawad El Jemili was sent off.
The hosts would score an equaliser but were unable to net a winning goal that would have seen them leapfrog Botev Plovdiv into fourth place and the final Championship group spot.
