May 13 – Fans of Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia delayed the kick off in the derby against against Cherno More in the efbet League with protests against the owner of Levski and club legend Nasko Sirakov.
Two minutes before the start of the match at the Georgi Asparuhov stadium, about 20 ultras entered the pitch and stood in front of one the goals with a protest banner reading ‘Sirakov – Out’.
The referee was unable to start the match due to what was happening on the field.
Levski’s players and management went on to the field and tried to talk to the supporters, who were adamant that they wanted to talk to Sirakov personally. Sirakov refused to talk to them and watched what was happening from one of the boxes in the stadium.
Finally, after about 15 minutes, the police intervened and forced the fans to leave the field so that the match could start.
Levski’s supporters are unhappy with Sirakov’s management of the club and especially the dismissal of the former head coach Stanimir Stoilov, who is now managing Turkey’s Goztepe and who have won promotion to the Turkish Super Lig.
The match against Cherno More was a big game Levski and the team’s ambitions to participate in European club tournaments next season. The match ended a 0-0 draw.
A few days ago it became clear that the current head coach Nikolay Kostov would be leaving the club.
“The year has already been declared a failure. The culprit was named and he has accepted his responsibility,” commented Kostov after the match, referring to himself.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1722055793labto1722055793ofdlr1722055793owedi1722055793sni@o1722055793fni1722055793