By Alexander Krassimirov
November 7 – Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia was punished with a minimum fine for misconduct of its supporters during the championship game against Pirin Gotse Delchev last weekend. The club’s Ultras (extreme fans) raised banners calling for the “death of the refugees” in Bulgaria.
Despite the death threats from the ultras, the Disciplinary Committee of the Bulgarian Football Union fined the club just 3.000 lev (€1.500). Committee members identified the posters “Death for the refugees” and “Blood will be shed for our land” as “sports unacceptable”.
According to the rules of the Bulgarian Football Union, Levski should have been fined 25.000 lev (€12.500), for a demonstration of “disparaging, discriminatory or derogatory words or actions concerning race, color, language, religion or origin”.
The Committee explained its decision as “indulgent” because of the fact that the same club should be seriously fined for the second time in period of one year.
In April, Levski were forced to pay 37.500 lev (€18.750) when supporters displayed slogans with Nazi symbols and “Happy Birthday” messages on the day of the birth of Adolf Hitler.
The Disciplinary Committee was to send a letter to urge the club to tighter control the admission of banners into the stadium.
The minimum fine comes hours later after the financial director of Levski admitted that the club has financial difficulties and was struggling to pay player wages.
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