The scenes of the fans’ unprecedented protest against the management of the BFS went around the world. The tension in the center of Sofia was covered by the media in many countries – from North Macedonia to the USA and Malaysia.
Berbatov: The responsibility lies with the BFS, and Kostadinov’s middle finger sums it all up
America’s ABC tells the story and explains in detail why the violence happened, highlighting the “Resign” chants in the 18th minute of domestic league matches.
“War in Sofia! Hundreds of fans of different teams from all over the country gathered in the capital to protest against the country’s football association, which decided that the match tonight (16.11.) will be without an audience”, they wrote in Greece.
Emo Kostadinov showed the middle finger to the media (video)
“Thousands of Bulgarian fans took to the streets in Sofia and protested because of the way in which Bulgarian football is managed by the BFS. Fans of many Bulgarian clubs participated in the protests, and the protest at one point turned into violence,” they wrote in Serbia.
“UEFA decided that the match in Sofia will be played behind closed doors following the request of the national federation, which is afraid of possible problems after the fans’ call for a large protest against the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS), at least 15 were injured”, this is how the events reflect in Malaysia.
Pogrom in the center of Sofia! Cars, a bus of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and garbage cans were on fire after a melee between ultras and the police, there are injured
In Hungary, they also did not fail to reflect what happened in parallel with the football match, after which the Hungarians qualified for the European Championship.
“As is known, the demonstration was pre-announced by the fan groups, after which the Bulgarian federation informed UEFA that the police could not guarantee the trouble-free organization of the match and would only allow the match to take place without spectators and outside Sofia. Then an incredible farce began, at the end of which the match was held in the capital,” writes a local publication.20
“Bulgarian fans are demanding the resignation of the federation’s leadership, headed by president Bobby Mihailov, who, according to them, has silently watched the decline of Bulgarian football over the past 18 years.
About half an hour before the game, fans started throwing torches and fireworks at the police, after which the police moved forward with water cannons. What distinguishes this protest is its unique front and the hitherto unimaginable unity of fans of all clubs. This is a rare coalition of fans of local clubs and big rivals,” wrote in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The decision to play tonight’s match in front of an empty stadium in Sofia, surrounded by 1,600 police in riot gear, was the final straw that angered long-disgruntled fans,” wrote North Macedonia.
Lechkov: For me, this is not a normal situation, we did not cause it
“At least 12 people were injured in the evening in Sofia in violent clashes between police and groups of football fans during the match between Bulgaria and Hungary, valid for the qualifiers for the European Championship in 2024, which ended 2:2. The match took place at the Vasil Levski stadium in the Bulgarian capital without the presence of an audience. When the news was reported, regional media reported that both demonstrators and police officers were among the injured. Several thousand demonstrators belonging to groups of fans of various clubs, shortly before the match, they started throwing firecrackers, stones and bottles at the police force sent to ensure public order”, writes the Italian website SportMediaset.
“A dozen injured in Sofia during clashes. At least 12 people were injured in the evening in Sofia during violent clashes between police and groups of football fans,” writes laregione.ch.
Follow our channel at
Carlsberg “Home of the Fans” is the new section of Sportal.bg for games. With your registration, you will be able to customize your content and participate in our games for great prizes.
Sign up
