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October 16, 2019

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Home » Sports » Soccer

Bulgarian chief resigns as UEFA urges racism ‘war’

Source: Agencies | 00:00 UTC+8 October 16, 2019 | Print Edition

Bulgarian soccer chief Borislav Mihaylov resigned yesterday after fans taunted England’s black players with Nazi salutes and monkey chants during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia, prompting match officials to halt the game twice.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov had called earlier for Mihaylov, a former goalkeeper and Bulgaria international, to go.

The fallout from what English FA chairman Greg Clarke described as “probably one of the most appalling nights I have seen in football” also triggered calls for urgent action from anti-racism campaigners and politicians.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said European governing body UEFA — the tournament organizer — needed to do more to tackle “vile” racism.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said, however, that soccer could not solve the problem on its own, and politicians must play a greater role.

“The football family — everyone from administrators to players, coaches and fans — needs to work with governments and NGOs to wage war on the racists and to marginalize their abhorrent views to the fringes of society,” the Slovenian said in a statement.

“Football associations themselves cannot solve this problem. Governments too need to do more in this area. Only by working together in the name of decency and honour will we make progress.”

Monday’s match was temporarily halted by the Croatian referee under a three-step UEFA protocol, but the stoppage did not go far enough for some anti-racism activists who felt the England players should have walked off.

The game was played in a partially closed stadium as punishment for racist behavior by Bulgaria fans during a home qualifier against Kosovo. A 3,000-seat section of Vasil Levski National Stadium was already due to be closed for the Czech Republic’s visit next month because of another racist incident in June when Bulgaria played in Prague.

Anti-racism organization Kick It Out said UEFA’s existing sanctions were not fit for purpose and called for Bulgaria to be booted out. “There can be no more pitiful fines or short stadium bans. If UEFA cares at all about tackling discrimination — and if the Equal Game campaign means anything — then points deductions and tournament expulsion must follow,” it said.

UEFA said it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria on a number of charges, including racist behavior and the throwing of objects.

England was also charged for disruption of the national anthem and an insufficient number of travelling stewards.

Mihaylov had previously defended Bulgarian soccer from accusations of racism and criticized England for what he saw as a “fixation” on potential incidents that could raise tension.

His exit came just hours after a Bulgarian Football Union spokesman said Mihaylov would not resign because the state had no right to interfere in football.

A later statement said that Mihaylov’s formal resignation would be presented to the Executive Committee on Friday.

“His position is a consequence of recent tensions; an environment that is detrimental to Bulgarian football and the Bulgarian Football Union,” it said.

More than 20 police officers swept into the BFU headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.

But the Bulgarian chief prosecutor’s spokeswoman said that the operation was part of an investigation conducted by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office, and so not directly related to the racism row.

“It’s about crimes against sport,” Rumyana Arnaudova said. “We’re talking about corruption offenses, connected to the work of the BFU’s referee commission and the appointment of referees on football matches.”

Mihaylov, captain of the Bulgarian team that made it to the World Cup semifinals in 1994, has been heavily criticized by local media and soccer fans for failing to lead the BFU out of years of corruption and controversy.

Bulgaria has failed to qualify for a major tournament since 2004, while Mihaylov’s tenure has been marred by allegations of cronyism. He has denied such allegations in the past.

There have been widespread reports of match-fixing in Bulgaria in recent years but little in the way of progress in holding anyone accountable.

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