site.btaUPDATED Bulgarian Fooball Fan Attacked and Stabbed in Skopje before Match

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Thursday said that it has been informed about a Bulgarian citizen who was attacked and injured in Skopje before a football match between PFC Levski and local FC Shkupi. According to initial reports, the attack took place in the northern part of the city and the man suffered stab wounds.

Bulgarian football fans were attacked minutes before the start of the Conference League football match between Shkupi and Levski Sofia in Skopje, the Sport 1 website reported. 15 Bulgarian citizens were detained by the police.

The Foreign Ministry said it was following closely the situation. The Bulgarian ambassador in Skopje has spoken with the competent authorities and called for swift clarification of the case and ensuring the safety of Bulgarian football supporters. 

The Bulgarian consul in Skopje has visited the injured Bulgarian man in the hospital where he was admitted for treatment. 

Later on Thursday the St Naum hospital in Skopje told the 4news website that the Bulgarian man was undergoing surgery. He was stabbed in the abdomen and received serious injuries. His liver was affected but he is out of life danger, the hospital reportedly said.

The man is identified as D. A, aged 29.

He was among four Bulgarians who were assaulted at 18:38 hrs on Thursday, according to the Interior Ministry in Skopje, quoted by news media in the Republic of North Macedonia. The Ministry is working to solve the case.