November 3 – The Plovdiv derby between Lokomotiv and Botev in the Bulgarian efbet League was abandoned after a bottle thrown from the crowd hit Daniel Naumov, Botev’s goalkeeper on the head in the 41st minute.
The rivalry between the two Plovdiv giants is one of the most intense in Bulgaria and has often been accompanied by clashes between the fans.
Before Nauvov incident, the match had been interrupted after firecrackers and flares were thrown on to the pitch.
Naumov received a long period of medical attention on the field before the match referee, Dragomir Draganov, decided to abandon the game at 1-1 due to security concerns.
Draganov spoke at length with the match delegate from the Bulgarian Football Union, Botev Plovdiv owner Ilian Filipov, and Lokomotiv Plovdiv executive director Toma Tsilev, before calling the game off.
The teams will now wait for an adjudication of the outcome of the match with the expected outcome being Lokomotiv will forfeit the game.
Following the abandonment the Bulgarian Ministry of Youth and Sports strongly condemned the incidents and called on the government for urgent measures in a statement saying: “The Ministry of Youth and Sports strongly condemns the act of violence that led to the abandonment of the city derby between the teams of Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) and Botev (Plovdiv).
“Such acts have no place either on sports fields or in the stands.”
The ministry also urged government “to urgently adopt the Law on Combating Sports Hooliganism, which has been awaiting consideration in the National Assembly for the sixth month now. The delay in this legislation endangers security at sports events and prevents the building of a sound and responsible sports culture in young people,” reads the position of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The Association of Bulgarian Footballers (ABF) also issued a saying, stating: “Today, on the Day of the National Awakeners – a day when we celebrate spirituality, enlightenment, and the power of knowledge, Bulgarian football was once again plunged into the shadow of aggression.
“The Plovdiv derby between Lokomotiv and Botev was prematurely abandoned after a shameful incident in which Botev’s goalkeeper, Daniel Naumov, was hit by an object thrown from the stands.
“This is not just an ‘incident’. This is a wound on the face of Bulgarian football, on the work and dignity of hundreds of boys who put their heart and efforts every day to inspire children to love the sport,” said the statement.
The ABF condemned football violence “regardless of the jersey colour. Our stadiums must be places of respect, passion, and sportsmanship, not arenas of hatred and madness.
“We call on all clubs, fans, and institutions to stand together behind the efforts to change the culture in the stands. Let’s bring football back to where it belongs – in the hearts of the people, not in the chronicles of scandals. On a day like today, when we honour the nation’s awakeners, let us remember that true education and example start on the pitch – from respect for the game, for the opponent, and for human life.”
Contact the writer of this story, Alexander Krassimirov, at [email protected]