Botev Vratsa files official complaint over refereeing in match against Arda

Botev Vratsa has filed an official complaint with the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) Referee Commission regarding the officiating during their First League match against Arda. The club is protesting a critical decision in the 82nd minute where a direct free kick was changed to a penalty following a VAR intervention by Mariyan Grebensharski.

Botev Vratsa claims the penalty was incorrectly awarded, stating that their defender was performing a stretch with his foot on the ground and that the Arda player, Birsent Karagaren, actually stepped on the defender's leg. The resulting penalty led to a 2-0 victory for Arda.

In addition to the complaint, Botev Vratsa has requested that head referee Vasil Minev no longer be assigned to officiate their matches. The club noted that this was Minev's first match since the Referee Commission suspended his VAR rights indefinitely in May due to unsatisfactory performance.