Bulgarian Football Union shocked and offended by England stance

The president of the Bulgarian Football Union Borislav Mihaylov has hit out at England and boss Gareth Southgate for suggesting their could be racist incidents on Monday.

Mihaylov sent a letter to UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis criticising England’s suggestions they could run the gauntlet of hate in Sofia.

England’s players have this week revealed they are prepared to walk off the pitch in Sofia if there is any racism.

The concerns from Southgate and England are understood to have come on the back of Bulgaria being handed a UEFA sanction for alleged racist behaviour in 2011.

In a letter to Theodoridis, Mihaylov wrote: “It is with a great feeling of regret that I find myself obligated to address you regarding a matter that I assumed to have been peacefully resolved at the end of last month.

“I first raised awareness about the issue at hand following England manager Gareth Southgate’s comments on potential racial abuse in England’s visit to Sofia on October 14.

“[Those were] comments the Bulgarian Football Union, the Bulgarian general public and I personally find offensive due to unjust branding of the local spectators as people inclined to discriminatory behaviour.

“Following the communication with English FA president Greg Clarke I was informed that Southgate’s concerns were mainly due to the fact that Bulgaria received a Uefa sanction for racist chants in 2011.

“Even though I view these comments as disregarding of all the work that the BFU has done over these eight years, I truly believed that our federation’s immediate reaction would result in a more constructive handling of public and media matters in the eve of the game in Sofia.”

Mikhaylov added: “Please find attached references to articles in worldwide media platforms in which various players from the England national team openly discuss the possibilities of breaking the UEFA three-step procedure and all UEFA protocols and walking off the pitch in the case of discriminatory behaviour in the team’s upcoming European qualifiers against the Czech Republic and particularly against Bulgaria – an idea which, if executed, should be punishable according to the UEFA disciplinary regulations.”

UEFA’s three-step protocol in the event of the referee or other officials becoming aware of racist abuse from supporters inside a stadium begins with an announcement over the stadium’s public address system ordering the abuse to stop.

If it persists the referee will take the teams off the field for a reasonable period of time. If the abuse continues after that break, then the game is abandoned.

England walking off before the protocol has been observed could result in them forfeiting the match, which under UEFA disciplinary regulations could see the match awarded as a 3-0 victory to Bulgaria.

 

 

 

Mikhaylov said he was “shocked” by the remarks from the England camp and said the accusations were “not only unjust but are continuous attempts to disrupt the atmosphere before a very much anticipated game of football”.

His letter comes as FARE – Football Against Racism in Europe – will send anti-racism ‘spotters’ into the crowd because they deem the game to be high-risk for potential discriminatory behaviour.

Mihaylov has asked UEFA to “take measures” against any tension in the run up to Monday’s game and told Sky Sports: “We at the Bulgarian Football Union feel that this fixation on potential incidents … does not do justice to the Bulgarian supporters, the general public and to the extreme efforts and measures that the BFU has taken in order to ensure a fair and safe environment for what we believe to be a true footballing spectacle.

“I, as president of the Bulgarian Football Union, cannot allow for such derogatory claims to continue being spread in the mass media and I strongly suggest that the UEFA administration take measures against the build-up of unnecessary tension in the weeks devoted to equality and to the celebration of football.”