April 20 – Anton Zingarevich, owner of Bulgaria’s Botev Plovdiv, has said the club is absolutely not for sale and has threatened to sue anyone who spreads “false” information about the club’s ownership.
“PFK Botev Plovdiv dissociates itself from the information that Mr. Anton Zingarevich is looking for someone to whom to sell the club,” said a club statement.
“The owner of Botev (Plovdiv) was not faced with the question of selling the club but quite the opposite – of its development. Especially after the return to the Hristo Botev Stadium, the main goal for Mr. Zingarevich and his team is to improve the results in the “yellow and black” club in all units.
“We categorically state that the “information” that appeared is fake news and anyone who dares to write such articles will be brought under legal responsibility by our club.”
Speculation over the future of the Bulgarian club began a few days ago when Zingarevich fired two of the club’s main directors, German Chistyakov and Alexey Zhukovin.
They were accused of embezzling money related to the construction of Botev’s new stadium.
Days after the dismissal of the two, the club received the necessary Act 16, allowing the facility to be used for official matches. The stadium is expected to also receive a license from the Bulgarian Football Union soon although its renovation is not yet fully completed.
The club is currently looking for sponsors to buy the naming rights to the stadium, which is due to be officially opened on April 29.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1726771308labto1726771308ofdlr1726771308owedi1726771308sni@o1726771308fni1726771308