By Alexander Krassimirov
August 27 – Bulgarian champions Ludogorets could be forced to play its matches in the group phase of the Champions League outside Bulgaria if they beat Romania’s Steaua in the playoffs. The second match against the Romanians is tonight in Sofia, with Steaua leading by a goal.
The problem for Ludogorets arises because the national stadium Vasil Levski, where it plays its home games, does not meet the requirements of UEFA which only allow only Category 4 stadiums to host Champions League group games. Currently the Vasil Levski stadium is ranking as a Category 3 facility.
The National stadium was part of Ludogorets’ campaign in the Europa League last season, but in this tournament the criteria are less restrictive.
The stadium, situated in the downtown of Bulgarian capital Sofia, hosted Levski’s games in the Champions League in 2006 but even then UEFA was forced to make a compromise. Eight years later, the stadium requirements seem unlikely to be overlooked again.
The irony is that should Ludogorets beat Steaua, they could return to Bucharest for the Champions League group games. The local National Arena, built for €230 million, is a Category 4 stadium. Another option would be to play at the Philip II – the national stadium in Skopje, Macedonia – which cost the Macedonians €50 million to build.
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