# Bulgarian First League refereeing disputes

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-first-league-refereeing-disputes
> Updated: 2026-09-02T14:59:22.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Bulgarian First League clubs have begun filing formal complaints and requests regarding refereeing decisions and appointments.

Botev Vratsa filed an official complaint with the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) Referee Commission following a match against Arda. The club contested a VAR-assisted penalty decision in the 82nd minute, alleging that the Arda player stepped on the defender rather than the reverse. Botev Vratsa also requested that head referee Vasil Minev no longer officiate their matches.

Similarly, Spartak Varna issued a formal declaration requesting a different head referee for their upcoming match against CSKA Sofia. The club cited concerns over the appointment of Radoslav Gidzhenov, referencing controversial decisions in a previous match involving the official. Spartak Varna appealed to the BFS Referee Commission to select a neutral official to maintain fairness and public trust.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-02: Spartak Varna requests new referee for CSKA Sofia match

Spartak Varna is requesting a new referee for their upcoming match against CSKA Sofia, citing concerns over Radoslav Gidzhenov’s impartiality following controversial past decisions.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spartak-varna-requests-new-referee-for-cska-sofia-match

### 2026-09-01: Botev Vratsa files official complaint over refereeing in match against Arda

Botev Vratsa has filed an official complaint with the Bulgarian Football Union over a controversial VAR-assisted penalty in their match against Arda, requesting that referee Vasil Minev no longer officiate them

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/botev-vratsa-files-official-complaint-over-refereeing-in-match-against-arda

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Cite as: Bulgarian First League refereeing disputes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-first-league-refereeing-disputes