BFS exempts Ludogorets from compensation fee after European progress

The Bulgarian Football Union's Executive Committee has waived the €199,467 compensation fee that Ludogorets Razgrad would have owed for failing to field at least four Bulgarian players in its starting lineup for the 2025/26 season. The decision cited the club's successful performance in UEFA competitions, reaching the Conference League knockout stage, which has increased the solidarity payments allocated to elite Bulgarian clubs from €862,005 in 2025 to €1,091,000 in 2026. Because Ludogorets does not receive solidarity funds, the fee was lifted. The outstanding amount of €797,868 will be collected from four other top‑division clubs—Levski, CSKA 1948, CSKA Sofia and Beroe—and redistributed among the remaining 11 elite teams, amounting to roughly €72,533 per club. The BFS indicated that future rule changes may modify how such payments are allocated.