By Alexander Krassimirov
November 21 – The president of the Bulgarian Football Union Borislav Mihaylov (pictured) has responded to criticism of a lack of money in Bulgarian football saying that sponsors have deserted the national team due to lack of success and that the government provides no funding to the federation.
He revealed that nearly half of the budget for the national team is provided by FIFA and UEFA disbursements. Mihaylov who is also a member of Executive Committee of UEFA said that the cost of the team for one year is nearly BGN 3 million.
“The costs for the national team are BGN 2,750,000 (€ 1 375 000) per year. Conditions provided for this team are unique for a country with our options. The level is close to the major European nations.”
Mihaylov was speaking after an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the Bulgarian Football Union after which the coach of Bulgarian national team Luboslav Penev was released.
According to Mihaylov, the major sponsors are not interested to invest because the Bulgarian national team has not qualified for the World Cup or European finals for more than 10 years.
“I want to make clear that the Bulgarian Football Union ensures that budget alone. The state did nothing and speculation should stop. The growth of the budget due to the president of the Union and its members. These are not little money, which were brought with my efforts and those of my colleagues.
“Most of the money comes from our relationship with UEFA, FIFA and television rights. UEFA sold all the television rights and apparently sells well. We are a small country and all other countries receive money from the state. Money from sponsors is a very small part, because Bulgarian national team has not qualified for the finals in the last 10 years. The TV market is a third of the budget, 10% is provided by sponsors and the money from FIFA and UEFA come close to half of the funds.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734869234labto1734869234ofdlr1734869234owedi1734869234sni@v1734869234orimi1734869234ssark1734869234.redn1734869234axela1734869234