March 6 – CSKA Sofia have criticised the Bulgarian Football Union’s (BFU) Disciplinary Committee for the “unequal” punishments it handed out following the club’s Eternal Derby with Levski Sofia last weekend, which was marred by misbehaviour by both sets of fans.
CSKA were fined just over 6 000 leva (€3,000) after their supporters threw smoke bombs onto the pitch, leading to the match being delayed for a short time while the smoke was cleared, while Levski were fined 10,000 leva (€5,000) for similar misconduct.
However, it was the punishment for an incident during the second half, when CSKA midfielder Olaus Skarsem was hit on the arm by a stone while taking a free kick and needed medical attention before the game resumed, that really angered CSKA.
For this offence by Levski fans, the club were punished with a warning and a fine of only 1,000 leva (€500). CSKA felt that this sanction was too small and called for “equality” between the two clubs.
They said in a statement: “During the Eternal Derby on March 2, 2025, all of Bulgaria witnessed another act of violence against a CSKA player. Olaus Skarsem was severely hit with a stone thrown from the stands by the visiting fans – a clear relapse, which unfortunately is not the first time.
“Over the years, football players, staff members and club employees have been the subject of aggression more than once, but the reaction after such events does not achieve a deterrent effect. At the same time, when CSKA is placed in such situations, the sanctions are always the harshest possible – fines of tens of thousands of leva, closing sectors or even holding home matches without spectators.
“For example, on June 10, 2024, CSKA was punished with 4,000 leva and one match without spectators for throwing an object at an official. Before that, we suffered the huge sanction of 30,000 leva and deprivation of a home match for throwing a 50-cent coin.
“Now, however, another aggression against a player from our club has been downplayed. A similar sparing decision was made after the bomb thrown at our chief physiotherapist, Ivan Hristov, after the Eternal Derby on September 18, 2022. This creates the feeling that certain clubs are given special treatment and the penalties are more pro forma than a real measure against lawlessness in the stands.
“CSKA insists on equality, adequate sanctions and urgent actions to deal with hooliganism in the stadiums, regardless of which club is sanctioned. Eradicating the attacks and aggression against the spectators, players and administrators is a mandatory condition for restoring trust in Bulgarian football. It is time for justice and legality to be imposed in practice and with adequate solutions, not with fictitious penalties and convenient compromises.”
Contact the writer of this story, Alexander Krassimirov, at moc.l1741268795labto1741268795ofdlr1741268795owedi1741268795sni@o1741268795fni1741268795.