Sofia, [November 16, 2023] – The atmosphere around the “Bulgarian Army” stadium yesterday turned tense at 16:00 as passionate fans of CSKA Sofia gathered to express their discontent with the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU).
The “Reds” supporters, a force to be reckoned with, united in a protest demanding the resignation of BFU President Borislav Mihailov.
The Tartor of Sector “G,” Ivan Velchev, made a conspicuous entrance to the stadium, further intensifying the charged environment. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the “Vasil Levski” stadium, fans from various clubs converged, forming a diverse collective voicing their concerns.
At 5:20 p.m., the “Reds” fans, flanked by a substantial police presence, marched towards “Orlov Most.” Displaying a banner condemning BFU President Borislav Mihailov, the protesters brought traffic on “Tsarigradsko shose” to a standstill.
The demands for Mihailov’s resignation echoed through the streets, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Simultaneously, another sizable group gathered in front of the Ministry of Sports. Among them, “Levski” fans, easily identifiable by their blue scarves, stood out, joined by Hungarian football enthusiasts.
The unified chants against the BFU and calls for resignations also resonated in this gathering.
As tensions mounted, “Gurko” street witnessed the ignition of flares and the eruption of fireworks into the sky. The situation took a dangerous turn when a bomb detonated near journalists and the first row of police, causing chaos.
Approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled match, the atmosphere turned violent as fans began hurling bombs and fireworks at law enforcement.
In response, the police advanced with water cannons, prepared for action. The escalating conflict prompted law enforcement to call for reinforcements and deploy a second water cannon.
Despite these efforts, fans persisted in their aggressive actions, throwing bottles, cobblestones, and various objects at the police.
The standoff persisted for over 20 minutes, with tensions refusing to subside. Faced with escalating violence, the police resorted to batons to disperse the unruly ultras, who retreated into smaller streets.
The aftermath revealed the clash’s collateral damage, with local residents’ broken cars surrounding the Vasil Levski stadium.
Tragically, injuries were reported on both sides, with wounded police officers and fans, some sitting helplessly on the asphalt with broken heads.
The episode serves as a stark reminder of the deep-seated discontent within the Bulgarian football community and the urgent need for resolution and dialogue between the fans and football authorities.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members