October 14 – Bulgaria’s Spartak Varna have launched an urgent donation campaign aiming to raise BGN 1 million (€500,000) by October 21st to avoid losing their licence.
The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) warned that Spartak faces that threat if it fails to settle some of its most pressing obligations to the National Revenue Agency (NRA), as well as debts owed to players and staff, by the deadline.
The Municipality of Varna allocated a portion of the necessary funds, but the money has not yet reached the club’s accounts due to “delayed procedures.”
Varna said in a statement: “We, for our part, have done everything possible – we filed documents, presented a recovery plan, attempted to find support through a sponsorship package for businesses, and sought support through the Varna Municipality.
“The Municipal Council has already voted ‘yes’ to assist the club, but unfortunately, the funds have not yet reached us due to delayed procedures and official opinions. This puts us in even greater difficulty, as time is pressing,
“The time has come to turn to ourselves – to the fans and the community.”
As a result the club has launched a campaign where fans can buy an ‘I am Spartak’ card which grants the buyer a donation certificate, five years of a free season pass, the inscription of their name on the ‘Wall of Saviors’ at Spartak Stadium, and inclusion with ‘golden letters’ in the next book about Spartak’s history.
The club said: “It’s easy to wait for someone else to solve our problems. But now is the time to turn our love for Spartak into action. To show that we want the club to exist where it belongs. This is only the first campaign with which we are trying to save the club.”
Spartak aims to sell 1,000 cards, “sufficient to stabilize the club and overcome the most severe obligations”. In less than two days since the campaign launch, Spartak announced that donations have already reached BGN 79,000 (€39,500).