Stiliyan Petrov and Lachezar Tanev clash over Bulgarian football management

A public dispute has emerged between former national team captain Stiliyan Petrov and prominent football agent Lachezar Tanev regarding the management of Bulgarian football.

Petrov criticized the current state of the sport, labeling influential figures as ‘weeds’ that have stifled growth for years. He argued that the failures of the national team are a product of a broken system and that defenders of the status quo often shift blame onto players rather than addressing structural issues within the Bulgarian Football Union.

In response on BNT’s ‘Arena Sport’, Tanev denied the accusations, claiming Petrov is ‘thirsty for power’ and only accepts views that align with his own. Tanev stated that his recent positive comments regarding certain union initiatives triggered the attack and maintained that he remains an independent figure who does not serve any specific interest.