One of Belarus’ finest referees did not have his finest hour and a half at a Premier League match between Vitebsk and Naftan. International ref Serge Shmolik, according to eyewitnesses, spent much of the game staggering around the centre circle, failing to keep up with play and refusing to issue any cards despite some heavy tackles flying about. At the end of the game, Shmolik was helped off the pitch by another official, waving to the crowd as he left. Tests revealed huge levels of alcohol in his system and the Belarus FA suspended Shmolik, who claimed that his strange performance was due to «a bad back».
