Football Team’s Hilarious Blunder: Minute’s Silence Held for Living Player!
Imagine the shock of discovering you were mourned by thousands, only to realize you’re perfectly alive! That’s precisely what happened to former player Petko Ganchev when a European football club, Arda Kardzhali, mistakenly held a minute’s silence in his memory before a recent match.
Football clubs worldwide often pay tribute to former players who have passed away by observing a minute’s silence before games. This respectful gesture allows fans and teams to collectively remember and honor those who contributed to the club’s history. However, in a truly bizarre turn of events, Bulgarian side Arda Kardzhali took this tradition to a whole new level of awkwardness.
On a seemingly ordinary Sunday, ahead of their league game against Levski Sofia in the Bulgarian top division, Arda Kardzhali, based in the town of Kardzhali, decided to honor their former striker, Petko Ganchev. The stage was set for a touching moment of remembrance.
Both teams lined up solemnly on the pitch, heads bowed, as fans in the stadium fell into respectful silence. Everyone present believed they were paying their respects to the late Petko Ganchev, a player who had dedicated five years to the club. It was a moment of unity and shared grief… or so everyone thought.
The heartfelt tribute, however, took an unexpected and comical twist. Before the match even concluded, Arda Kardzhali was forced to issue a hasty and very public apology. They had mistakenly announced Ganchev’s death and held a minute’s silence based on incorrect information. The club quickly deleted their initial Facebook statement but the news had already spread like wildfire.
Public Apology to Alive and Well Petko Ganchev
The official apology from PFC ARDA, as reported by BBC Sport, was a sincere attempt to rectify their monumental error. It read:
- “Dear journalists and fans of ARDA,”
- “The management of PFC ARDA would like to extend a sincere apology to former ARDA player Petko Ganchev and his family after the club received incorrect information about his passing.”
- “We wish Petko Ganchev many more years of health and joy as he continues to celebrate ARDA’s successes.”
In an interview with Bulgarian website BLITZ, Petko Ganchev himself recounted the surreal experience. He explained that he was running slightly late on match day due to personal errands. His delayed arrival home led to a dramatic and bewildering welcome.
- “I was 10 minutes late… While driving home, my phone started ringing a lot,” Ganchev stated.
- “I parked in front of our house, entered the yard and my wife greets me crying, shouting: ‘Petko, Petko, they announced on TV that you have died!'”
- “I could not understand what she was telling me… Then two of my friends called me.”
Ganchev humorously acknowledged the absurdity of the situation while also admitting the stress it caused.
- “Look, sometimes such things happen, but the situation was not easy at all,” he said.
- “It is normal to spread a rumour here in the village, but they announced it in front of the whole football audience of Bulgaria.”
- “So many people called me – relatives, friends, acquaintances… The situation was not pleasant, but in the end we have to be positive.”
Arda Kardzhali players lined up to pay respect to Petko Ganchev. (Image: TheSportsman on X)
Despite the pre-match confusion, Arda Kardzhali managed to secure a 1-1 draw in their game. They currently sit fifth in the 16-team league, still holding onto hopes of European football qualification for next season. However, the biggest talking point of the day was undoubtedly the case of the prematurely mourned – and very much alive – Petko Ganchev. This story serves as a comical reminder that even in the serious world of professional football, mistakes – sometimes spectacularly funny ones – can happen.
Have you ever witnessed or heard of such a bizarre sporting mishap? Share your stories in the comments below!