Four Bulgarian clubs given stadium ban

Four Bulgarian premier league sides have failed to get permission to host matches next season due to the poor condition of their stadiums, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) said. Botev Plovdiv, Belasitsa Petrich, Lokomotiv Mezdra and Minyor Pernik...

Four Bulgarian premier league sides have failed to get permission to host matches next season due to the poor condition of their stadiums, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) said.

Botev Plovdiv, Belasitsa Petrich, Lokomotiv Mezdra and Minyor Pernik will play home league matches at neutral venues next season as their stadiums did not meet the BFU's licensing criteria.

Cash-strapped champions CSKA Sofia, who were excluded from next season's Champions League because of their debt, were given an extension until August 1 to upgrade facilities at their Bulgarska Armiya stadium.

CSKA will be forced to play their home matches at the National Stadium Vasil Levski if they do not meet requirements. The new league season starts on Aug. 9.

The Balkan country's clubs, many of whom face considerable infrastructure difficulties, are struggling to meet administrative, legal and financial conditions set by UEFA.

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