Bulgarian football refereeing controversies

Tensions have risen within Bulgarian football regarding officiating standards and perceived bias in the First League.

CSKA Sofia director Valentin Iliev criticized the frequency of yellow cards for minor contact, arguing that such decisions hinder the dynamism of the sport. He described the repetitive nature of refereeing complaints as “sad and banal.”

Following a match between Dunav and Levski, Levski Sofia sports director Georgi Kostadinov expressed strong dissatisfaction with officiating quality. He cited specific perceived errors, including a missed penalty in Varna and missed red cards in matches against Arda and during the Supercup. Kostadinov stated that the club would no longer tolerate frequent errors that appear to occur in one direction.

Ludogorets owner Kiril Domuschiev has also accused the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) of favoritism and double standards. Following the Dunav and Levski match, Domuschiev alleged that Levski captain Kristian Dimitrov should have received a red card, contrasting this with an earlier red card issued to Ludogorets player Ruan Cruz. Domuschiev specifically alleged that BFS President Georgi Ivanov shows bias toward certain teams and criticized Stanimir Trenchev regarding his role in the VAR room.

In the wake of a 0:1 home defeat against Levski Sofia, Dunav Ruse has issued an official appeal to the BFS. Head coach Georgi Chilikov and the club are questioning why Kristian Dimitrov was not sent off following a collision with Jose Cabarcas, an incident that required the defender to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. Dunav Ruse has submitted eight formal questions to the BFS and its commissions regarding refereeing transparency, VAR usage, disciplinary consistency, and the management of financial fines. The club is also seeking a direct meeting with BFS President Georgi Ivanov and the Chairman of the Refereeing Commission.