November 21 – Bulgarian prosecutors have begun an investigation into the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) and its president Borislav Mihaylov (pictured).
That investigation was announced after a series of protests by Bulgarian fans against Mihaylov’s 18-year reign at the head of the federation.
Matters came to ahead in Sofia last week when what started as a peaceful fan protest turned violent before the Bulgaria-Hungary Euro 2024 qulaifier that was played behind close doors.
In a statement the Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office said the investigation is into alleged violations and/or crimes of a different nature, inclunding spending public resources, and fixing games.
“By order of the Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, the prosecutor’s office is reporting itself in connection with numerous publications in the media containing information about committed violations and/or crimes of a different nature (spending of public resources, “black lottery”, etc.) by the leadership of the Bulgarian Football Union, including and by the president of the federation B. Mihaylov,” said the Bulgarian prosecutor’s statement.
“The work on the inspection has been assigned to the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office (SGP), which is yet to clarify facts and circumstances related to the activities of the football federation in recent years. In the course of the inspection, information is to be requested from various state institutions – Ministry of Youth and Sports, NRA, etc. The prosecutor’s office will inform the public about the progress of the investigation and its results.”
Hours later after issuing the statement Mihaylov was summoned for questioning by the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bulgaria. The questioning lasted for nearly four hours.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1715940564labto1715940564ofdlr1715940564owedi1715940564sni@o1715940564fni1715940564