For a long time, we remained silent, focused on solving our own problems. But the time has come to issue a sharp warning that we will not stand idly by in the face of the "double standard" policy and the violation of its own rules by the Bulgarian Football Union. We support the outrage of our owner Kiril Domuschiev regarding the double standard in the issuing of red cards, demonstrated by referee Mariyan Grebencharski. Whether it is a human error or a deliberate act, we leave to his conscience. The same cannot be said about the behavior of VAR referee Stanimir Trenchev, who once again kept his eyes wide shut.
Refereeing errors will exist as long as football exists. There are scandals even in the biggest leagues in Europe. They will continue, but we insist on full transparency and equal standards when imposing punishments on the guilty parties. We are curious to see whether Stanimir Trenchev will be removed from the First League ranking list, as such a measure was already applied to Stoyan Arsov after the Ludogorets vs. CSKA match at the end of last season. The dissatisfaction with Trenchev is not new. Botev (Pd), Loko (Sf), CSKA, CSKA 1948, Sportist, and others have also had serious grievances against the referee over the years. But what of it – he is now an international VAR referee.
But it is not only the referee appointments and mistakes that provoke our indignation. Without being notified and without our opinion being sought, the round of 16 match with Levski for the Bulgarian Cup was scheduled for December 15, even though the previously announced period for matches in this phase of the tournament was December 11–14. The deputy executive director of the BFS, Dobrin Gyonov, personally explained the principle: after a European home match on Thursday, the next game is on Sunday, and after an away game – on Monday. So why is the match with Levski on Tuesday? Who proposed the exception? Who approved it and on what grounds?
As a long-standing European participant, we approach our colleagues from Levski with understanding and would not object to them having one extra recovery day. But our players have already purchased plane tickets in accordance with the BFS schedule and the specified dates, and the change will result in huge financial losses. Who will cover these damages amounting to several thousand euros?
And this change is not a precedent. The BFS again broke its principles by moving Levski's match with Arda from Monday (October 26) to Tuesday (October 27) in round XII of the First League. The other European participant, CSKA, who also had a match on October 22 (Thursday), played against Ludogorets on October 26, following the schedule. We wonder – what value do the rules and previously announced dates have if the BFS changes them autocratically?
Last season, we repeatedly warned about questionable practices in the organization of draws, but received an icy silence from the Bulgarian Football Union. We requested test draws with the so-called software – silence again. At the same time, we are paying an unknown amount for this software, which clearly does not solve problems nor convinces us that it is fairer than the ‘Berger’ system. There is even the paradox of a Sofia team playing 12 consecutive matches in Sofia. Is it crazy luck, or is there something else, which is the responsibility of other authorities? We are sure that such a precedent does not exist in any other European country. For this reason, we insist that for the 2027/28 season draw, the ‘Berger’ system, which is the only one guaranteeing equality between clubs, be reinstated.
We reserve the right, if we do not see positive change, to seek other legal means to protect ourselves from this arbitrariness. In days when we see large-scale realized and upcoming investments in the infrastructure and development of Bulgarian football, the BFS has no right to mock the few people left who spend money on our beloved game.