May 22 – Ultras from Bulgaria’s Botev Plovdiv stormed the pitch following the team’s loss to Lokomotiv Sofia in the Bulgarian championship, attacking players and stripping them of their shirts.
That was the third defeat in a row for Botev Plovdiv following their return to the renovated ‘Hristo Botev’ stadium. As well as not having won a single game at home so far, they have not even scored a single goal.
A few days before the game, Botev’s supporters threatened that if the team performance did not change, they would be forced to take the players’ jerseys, as they do not deserve to wear them.
Last week Botev already they will terminate the contract of head coach Bruno Baltazar at the end of the season.
However, Botev’s ultras were already beyond recall by that stage and invaded the field after the final whistle. The fans demanded an explanation from players for the poor results, forcing some of them to take off their jerseys, which were left in the centre of the pitch.
Botev’s supporters subsequently tried to break into the team’s dressing room chanting ‘Everyone out’. At which the point the police managed to get control of the protesting fans.
The tension in Botev has been raised significantly in recent weeks after the disappointing season. The team sits in the unenviable tenth place in the table without any chance of participation in the European club tournaments next season.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1713539624labto1713539624ofdlr1713539624owedi1713539624sni@o1713539624fni1713539624