Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Resignations demanded after the football protests in Sofia

PM Nikolay Denkov
Photo: BGNES

Bulgaria's Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Stoyan Temelakiev has been fired, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov announced earlier today. "Instead of a football celebration, we observed ugly scenes of violence. Mainly because of the management of the Bulgarian Football Union which has been led to decline. There are mistakes on the part of the Ministry of the Interior," Denkov said at a press briefing.


The Prime Minister announced that he would discuss the resignation of Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov with Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel, because he made an inadequate assessment of the situation. Stoyanov's resignation was also requested by the co-chairman of the ruling coalition "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" (PP-DB) Kiril Petkov. 

The chairman of the MRF parliamentary group Delyan Peevski objected and announced that the interior minister was pressured during the local elections to work in favour of the PP-DB. 

GERB leader Boyko Borisov demanded the resignations of sports minister Dimitar Iliev and the chairman of the Bulgarian Football Union Borislav Mihailov. Acting chief prosecutor Borislav Sarafov ordered the prosecutor's office to conduct an inspection of the management of the Bulgarian Football Union because of media publications about financial crimes, including the "black lottery", reports BTA.

At the end of his press conference and the blocked work of the parliament, the prime minister said: "I will not give in to pressure. GERB and MRF, who are always together lately, as we see, have every right to overthrow the government. Let them do it"!

At a briefing, Minister of the Interior Kalin Stoyanov stated that the director of the Sofia metropolitan directorate of the interior had initiated an internal probe as a matter of urgency, to establish whether any police officers overstepped their powers during last night’s protest by football fans in Sofia. In his words, the adequate reaction by the police prevented more serious damage, or even casualties. 




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Monument of Gratitude in the centre of Burgas

Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry condemns vandalism against synagogue and Jewish monument

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has vehemently condemned the vandalism against the synagogue in Varna and the Monument of Gratitude in Burgas, which is a token of gratitude for the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews during World War II, the Ministry..

published on 10/9/25 11:31 AM

Forum in Sofia to discuss secure transition to the eurozone

“Ensuring the security of the transition to the eurozone” – this is the title of the forum dedicated to security measures for the introduction of the euro, which will be held today in Sofia. It is organized by the Association of Industrial Capital in..

published on 10/9/25 7:15 AM

The “Green Wave – 21st Century” Festival in Kardzhali offers training in disaster situations

The European Environmental Festival “Green Wave – 21st Century” is returning to Bulgaria's town of Kardzhali with practical training, screenings and discussions , informs Radio Kardzhali of the Bulgarian National Radio. The aim of the event, which will..

published on 10/9/25 6:10 AM