site.btaHristo Botev Stadium Cannot Host Bulgaria-Hungary Football Match on Nov. 16 - Plovdiv Municipality

Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov Tuesday blamed the crisis in Bulgarian football on the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU). "It is time for BFU to realize that it is responsible for the fact that Bulgarian football has been going steadily downhill in recent years," said the Prime Minister. Denkov’s comment came after a chain of events following the organization of the European qualifier between the national football teams of Bulgaria and Hungary and the football fans’ plans for a major protest against the BFU.

On Monday, newly-elected Kardzhali Mayor Erol Myumyun confirmed that the Arda Arena stadium in Kardzhali is prepared to host the European qualifier between the men’s national football teams of Bulgaria and Hungary on 16 November. Myumyun explained that he was reached by the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU), after earlier on Monday it became clear that Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv cannot host the game on that date.

A decision by the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) to change the venue for a European qualifier with Hungary on November 16 and play the match to empty stands had fans infuriated in both countries. In Bulgaria, fans' anger has long been simmering. In