20 to 30 fans giving Nazi salutes, making
monkey sounds and wearing TV shirts
with the slogan “No Respect” – a variant
on the UEFA “Respect” campaign. They
also chanted slogans directly against BFU
president Mihaylov. At the end of the first
half, these people left the stadium and
the view of most Bulgarians was that
their actions were a deliberate and
planned attack by hooligan provocateurs
on Mihaylov, who is an unpopular figure.
Mihaylov, whose goalkeeper son
Nikolay was among Bulgaria’s substitutes,
left the stadium 20 minutes before the
end so as not to be a witness to the 6-0
defeat, one of the biggest disasters in the
history of the national team.
Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria’s prime
minister was quick to have his say. “I can’t
accept the insulting comparisons made
by the English media that Bulgarians areracists and animals,” he said. “We will
not comment on the behaviour of the
English fans in Sofia, because they are
not the face of the English nation.
“The English prime minister Boris
Johnson and I condemned the racism,
because we are together against racism.
“I told our minister of foreign affairs
to inform the English ambassador that
we don’t agree Bulgaria to be a racist
country just because of a group of
ragamuffins.”
The UEFA match delegate Pavel
Klimenko, who is also the Eastern Europe
development officer for anti-racist group
FARE, announced that some people had
entered the stadium dressed in stewards’
bibs and then joined the hooligans,
who insulted and abused England’s
black players Raheem Sterling, Marcus
Rashford and Tyrone Mings. Later most
of the hooligans were identified and the
police arrested 16 people.
The next day events took a dramatic
turn. In the morning the Bulgarian sports
minister, Krassen Kralev, announced that
prime minister Borisov wanted to end thegovernment’s relationship with the
BFU and called for the retirement of its
president, Mihaylov. About 1.30pm the
BFU press officer insisted Mihaylov would
be remaining in his post, but two hours
later, on the BFU website, the president
announced his resignation.
“For some time I have been
considering retirement,” Mihaylov said.
“Fourteen years is a long time and maybe
I am tired. Recent events have created
tension. The results of the national team
have been weak, but I am not responsible
for those. As a goalkeeper I never
conceded six goals in a single match.
“It will be difficult to find somebody to
replace me as I am the longest-serving
leader of Bulgarian football. In Bulgaria
they do not like successful people, but
I have been a successful president.
“When I began, in 2006, the BFUeyewitness
budget was about €3million, but in 2019
it is more than €9m. My biggest mistake
was that I was too good.
“Regarding the racism, the hysteria
came from England before the match.
That is why I wrote two letters, to the
FA and UEFA, telling them we are not
a racist country. The events during the
match were pre-planned. I cannot agree
that a group of 20 or 30 fans can
represent the Bulgarian nation.”
In a separate move, unconnected with
events on the pitch, special police forces
raided the offices of the BFU. More than
50 officers took control of computers
and documents.
Prime minister Borisov claimed the
move had been planned several days
earlier and was not connected with
events at the game. There have long
been doubts and suspicions about fixed“I cannot agree that a group of 20 or 30
fans can represent the Bulgarian nation”
BFU president, Borislav Mihaylov
Message...UEFA Respect campaign is mockedResignation...
Borislav MihaylovWarning...England
players wait while an
appeal is made over
the PA system