The European qualifiers match between Bulgaria and Hungary is not going to be played in Plovdiv, sports law expert Georgi Gradev announced on social media. He appealed UEFA’s decision for the match to be transferred from Sofia to Plovdiv at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov banned the holding of the match in the city, bTV reports. The reason cited is that at the time the match should be played – at 7 PM on 16 November, the construction company of the Hristo Botev stadium in Plovdiv is planning to carry out finishing work at the stadium.

In an interview with public service TV BNT, Minister of Sports Dimitar Iliev demanded that the Bulgarian Football Union reverse the decision for the match to be played in front of empty stands. He convened a meeting with the football union on the matter on 14 November. The decision came after football fans stated that because of the poor international performance of the national football team, they were planning protests on 16 November.