Violent protests have erupted outside the national stadium in Sofia, where the Euro2024 qualifier between home country Bulgaria and friendly Hungary is taking place behind closed doors.
Thousands of Bulgarian football fans have taken to the streets of the capital, protesting against the way the Football Association is being managed, a demonstration that has eventually been dominated by acts of violence.
A few minutes before the start of the challenge, fans threw improvised Molotov cocktails, stones and plastic bottles at the police. After burning garbage cans, the police responded by bringing out water cannons to disperse the crowd.
About 1,600 police in riot gear were stationed around the stadium in central Sofia, while media reported that several protesters were injured in clashes with law enforcement.
What infuriated the Bulgarian fans and made them take to the square to vent their anger was the decision of the leaders of the Bulgarian Football Union to play Thursday's match with empty stands.
16.11.2023????????Football protest in Sofia calls for urgent leadership overhaul in Bulgarian football union https://t.co/Fjy3xrlEmQ pic.twitter.com/0PyYjpfs0c
— Hooligans.cz Official (@hooliganscz1999) November 16, 2023
The Bulgarian national team has failed to qualify for a major tournament for almost two decades. After the last two humiliating defeats by Albania and Lithuania in October, fans called for a nationwide protest, blaming the union's leaders for the poor results and demanding their resignation.
In the past weeks, football fans have called "Resign!" in the 18th minute of every championship match, as a sign of protest against the president of the Bulgarian Football Union Borislav Mihaylov and his assistants, who have been in charge for the past 18 years.
Fearing fresh unrest against his leadership, Mihaylov last week asked UEFA to order the match with Hungary to be played behind closed doors due to exceptional circumstances.
16.11.2023????????Bulgarian hooligans vs 1312 https://t.co/Fjy3xrlEmQ pic.twitter.com/ITT03U9Nxs
— Hooligans.cz Official (@hooliganscz1999) November 16, 2023
"The Bulgarian Football Union has given UEFA the necessary guarantees from the relevant local authorities and the management of the stadium in Sofia to host the match at the Vasil Levski National Stadium without spectators," UEFA announced in a statement before the challenge. (A2 Televizion)
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