Linesman in Barca shirt replaced for final
Norway's Ole Hermann Borgan, who posed for newspaper pictures in a Barcelona shirt, has been replaced as linesman for tomorrow morning's Champions League final.
Borgan had earlier admitted he was stupid to pose in the shirt the day before officiating in the final between Spanish champions Barca and Arsenal at the Stade de France in Paris.
European soccer's governing body UEFA said on its website that it had replaced Borgan with his compatriot Arild Sundet.
Borgan, 41, posed in Barca's red and blue striped shirt for Tuesday's edition of Norwegian newspaper Drammens Tidende.
"It was both thoughtless and stupid of me," he said afterwards on the paper's website.
"I didn't think the situation and consequences through when I was asked to put on the shirt."
Before UEFA acted swiftly to replace Borgan, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Barca coach Frank Rijkaard had both played down the issue.
"I do not go into games looking at referees, I just have positive feelings about them," Wenger said.
"They will always work hard and honestly. The fact that one wore a Barcelona shirt does not change my mind but it is surprising and could create some controversy."
Dutchman Rijkaard had joked that it could all have been solved if Borgan had donned an Arsenal shirt.
"It is interesting for the press but I'm not questioning the mentality of the referee and his assistants," he said.
-Reuters