October 27 – Bulgaria’s biggest club rivalry was marred by a serious outbreak of crowd trouble at the weekend but of a somewhat unusual nature when CSKA Sofia coach Stoycho Mladenov was knocked unconscious by a snowball thrown from rival Levski Sofia supporters.
Visiting CSKA won 3-0 in the 137th edition of the so-called ‘eternal derby’ but the game will be remembered for Mladenov being struck on the head, forcing proceedings to be halted for several minutes.
At least 57 supporters were detained by Bulgarian police prior to kick-off, with the country’s interior ministry revealing most fans were caught carrying missiles, torches, knives, a sword and a machete.
“They hit me with a snowball and I lost consciousness,” Mladenov told reporters after a fixture renowned for fan violence. “It’s not the first, second or third Levski offence. They should throw them out. Tomorrow, someone could die.”
Police were also forced to intervene during the closing stages when Levski fans broke through safety fences and several dozen invaded the athletics track that surrounds the pitch before being forced back by more than 100 officers.
On the pitch, CSKA recorded their sixth successive win over Levski, moving them 10 points clear at the top of the table as they aim to win the title for the first time since 2008.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734848267labto1734848267ofdlr1734848267owedi1734848267sni@w1734848267ahsra1734848267w.wer1734848267dna1734848267