site.btaBFU Presidential Candidate Berbatov Presents Potential Executive Committee

Former football player Dimitar Berbatov, who is running for president of the Bulgarian Football Union, presented Monday the executive committee with which he will work if he takes over the management of the institution. His associates and former teammates Stiliyan Petrov and Martin Petrov also took part in the news conference, which took place in Sofia before their meeting with representatives of clubs from the city and the region.

The new BFU president will be voted at an extraordinary congress held on March 15 at the Marinela Hotel in the capital. A total of seven contenders for the post vacated by Borislav Mihaylov will enter the race. Besides Berbatov, these are Mihail Kasabov, Georgi Ivanov, Petyo Kostadinov, Manol Ivanov, Georgi Gradev and Georgi Zahariev.

Berbatov’s potential board includes Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov, Blagoevgrad Mayor Metodi Baykushev, former national team coaches Petar Hubchev and Plamen Markov, and former caretaker deputy prime minister for the management of European funds Atanas Pekanov.

The 14-man list also features former players, lawyers, financiers, and entrepreneurs. The remaining names on the list are: Stiliyan Petrov, Martin Petrov, Yasna Stavreva (a lawyer of the Association of Bulgarian Footballers), Payhawk co-founder and CEO Hristo Borisov, lawyer Georgi Vladkov, Sofiamed’s Clinic for Infectious Diseases Head Georgi Popov who is carrying out medical control at all levels of European football for the Union of European Football Associations, ucha.se founder Darin Madzharov, economist Petar Ganev, and Grabo.bg co-founder Velizar Velichkov.

"This is the team we think we can run football with after so many years of stagnation. Yes - it is a mix of people from different fields: lawyers, economists, financiers. People who have to make football what it is nowadays - a business product. But because football remains a game, we also have football people. Our main task is to make football a product and to manage it in the right way in its business part," Berbatov underlined.

"We have introduced [the team to] the municipalities, to the clubs. They have already seen, felt and understood how we want to proceed. Of course, if they decide to elect us, we will try to make sure that football goes forward. But that will become clear on March15. All media should be allowed at the Congress itself. If they are not allowed, that is the truest signal that something is going to happen. Because what is the problem with letting them in when there is nothing to hide?" said the former national team captain.

On March 18, 2022, Berbatov and his team organized a congress which was attended by representatives of some 11% of the clubs that are part of the BFU. All the participants in the event voted Berbatov for new BFU President but this vote was not accepted as legitimate and most of the clubs that attended it got expelled from BFU, while the others were sanctioned. Most of the people that were part of Berbatov’s executive committee then, are not featured on his current team.

 "I think the times are different, we have to seek an upgrade. Some people did not like it, but they accepted my decision and I respect them for that. Without underestimating the qualities of anyone, I have explained the decision and they have accepted it. Because the cause is bigger than all of us. And the understanding we have helps us,” Berbatov said on Monday.

He explained the inclusion of Atanas Pekanov in the Executive Committee, "He is a specialist in what he does - management and absorption of European funds,” the former football star noted. "I have no worries about our team getting political,” he added.

"A conversation was held with each of the people on the list. They have been told what their function will be, how they will work, how they can be useful and some of them have given a different direction but as you know - we are not perfect. We have chosen these people,” Stiliyan Petrov pointed out.

"These are people who have developed a lot in their fields and will help us to develop football as a product," Martin Petrov said.