By David Gold
December 5 – After winning the Bulgarian player of the year award ahead of Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (pictured) has called for the abolition of the prize.
Berbatov, the country’s top goalscorer with 48 goals, had asked not to be voted for again after winning the award for a record breaking seventh time last year, but still came second with 24 per cent of the 8,000 votes cast.
Many boycotted the award and opted not to cast their votes.
The 52-year-old Borisov won what he described as “a protest vote”, after being recognised for his prolific goalscoring for third division outfit Vitosha Bistritsa with 44 per cent of the votes.
“This vote is not a signal that Borisov is the best player but that the Bulgarian football needs reforms and a new policy,” he said in a statement.
“I suggest the organisers should annul the vote or they should hand the award to the best young player.”
It is the latest in a farcical run for Bulgarian football, which plummeted to new depths this year when they finished bottom of their qualifying group for the European Championships in 2012, below Wales, Switzerland, Montenegro and England.
It was their worst performance in qualifiers for a major tournament, and none of their clubs reached the Champions League or Europa League group phases.
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