site.btaPrime Minister Talks with Football Club Owners

July 8 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with the
 owners of Bulgaria's top three football clubs Ludogorets,
CSKA-Sofia and Levski on Monday to discuss television rights,
alleged pressure on referees, and football hooliganism. The
meeting at the Council of Ministers was also attended by
Interior Minister Mladen Marinov, Prosecutor General Sotir
Tsatsarov and Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) President Borislav
Mihailov.

In a comment after the meeting, Mihailov said the discussion was
 held on the Prime Minister's initiative. The BFU President said
 the Commission for Protection of Competition found no conflict
of interest in the sale of Nova Broadcasting Group to the
brothers Kiril and Georgi Domouschiev, the former of whom owns
the Ludogorets football club and the Football Pro Media company
that holds the television rights for Bulgaria's Premier League,
and also sits on the Executive Committee of the Bulgarian
Football Union.

"The owners of the major clubs shook hands, which does not
happen very often," Mihailov went on to say. According to him,
all allegations about pressure on judges remain unproven.

Interior Minister Marinov told reporters that the meeting was
aimed to prevent possible tensions in stadiums during the next
season and to ensure fair play.

Marinov said: "The conduct of supporters' groups is contingent
on what happens in the teams, on the pitch, and between the club
 owners. [...] I attended the meeting because I am concerned
with public order and the conduct of supporters' groups. Our
focus will be on preventing match fixing and averting pressure
on officials." RY/VE

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