The Disturbing Scene in Sofia’s Vasil Levski Stadium
Monday night’s European Qualifier between Bulgaria and England took a dark turn when Bulgarian stewards abandoned their duties in a shocking display of complicity with racist fans. Eyewitnesses reported that these security personnel removed their hi-vis vests during halftime and joined the crowd in the second half – the same period when England’s black players faced the worst racist abuse.
Melbet has learned through exclusive sources that this wasn’t spontaneous behavior but part of a deeply troubling pattern in Bulgarian football culture. The incident raises serious questions about stadium security protocols when the very people entrusted with maintaining order become part of the problem.
The Ultra Connection: How Fan Culture Infiltrated Security
Our investigation reveals this isn’t an isolated incident but standard practice in Bulgarian football. Local experts confirm that stadium security is often outsourced to club “ultras” – the most extreme elements of fan bases historically linked to football violence across Eastern Europe.
Former Bulgarian football security consultant Dimitar Petrov told Melbet: “When ultras become stewards, you’re essentially asking hooligans to police themselves. It’s like putting arsonists in charge of the fire department.”
This systemic failure explains why UEFA’s anti-racism protocols collapsed so completely. With security personnel either participating in or turning a blind eye to racist chants targeting players like Tyrone Mings, Marcus Rashford, and Raheem Sterling, England’s players were left unprotected.
UEFA’s Controversial Response and Double Standards
While UEFA swiftly charged the English FA for alleged insufficient steward numbers to control their 3,500 traveling fans, no similar action has been taken against Bulgarian authorities. This discrepancy highlights the governing body’s inconsistent approach to racist incidents.
Prominent Bulgarian sports journalist Mtodi Shumanov captured the national shame, telling Melbet: “This wasn’t just a few bad apples – the systemic failures and participation of stewards shows how deep the problem runs in our football culture.”
The Growing Threat of Football Racism in Europe
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin’s statement about “waging war on racists” rings hollow without concrete action. The rise of nationalist movements across Europe has created an environment where racist behavior in football stadiums has become increasingly brazen.
Tactical analysis shows these incidents follow a pattern:
- Coordinated racist chants during opposition set pieces
- Targeted abuse when specific players touch the ball
- Complicit security allowing the behavior to continue
England manager Gareth Southgate’s leadership in supporting his players stands in stark contrast to the Bulgarian Football Union’s failure to control their own stadium.
Melbet Verdict: Time for Radical Solutions
This incident proves current anti-racism measures are failing. Melbet recommends:
- Immediate bans on using ultras as stewards
- Points deductions for teams failing to control racism
- Mandatory neutral security at high-risk matches
- Stadium closures for repeat offenders
The beautiful game cannot survive this ugly stain. As Ceferin stated, football must work with governments to marginalize racism – but first, it must clean its own house. The stewards’ actions in Sofia didn’t just abandon their posts – they abandoned football’s fundamental values.
