Ex-player ‘poured a brandy’ after learning of his ‘death’

“I poured myself a small brandy when I heard the terrible news.”

A typical Sunday afternoon spent with his former club, Arda Kardzhali, led to a night of reassuring friends and family that Petko Ganchev was still alive.

Before kick-off, the Bulgarian top-flight team observed a moment’s silence for Ganchev in the false belief that the 78-year-old had passed away.

Because I had a personal job, I was 10 minutes late for kick-off. My phone started ringing loudly as I drove home, Ganchev, the former striker, told BLITZ.

My wife greets me crying and says, “Petko, Petko, they announced on TV that you had died!” as I park in front of our house.

“I had no idea what she was telling me about or what had transpired. Then, two of my friends called me.

“I’m quite stressed out, really,” says the author.

Before the game was over, Arda quickly discovered the error and posted it on the club’s Facebook page to accuse them of being incompetent.

Ivaylo Petkov, the club’s sporting director, called Ganchev, who had spent five years with Arda, to say he apologized.

Look, there are times when this happens, but Ganchev remarked, “Look, sometimes it doesn’t make sense.”

“They announced a rumor in front of the entire Bulgarian football audience, which is normal,” they said.