Bulgarian Football Union technical director Georgi Ivanov under fire for ‘skin colour’ comments
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Bulgarian Football Union manager Georgi Ivanov criticized for suggesting footballers ‘with a different skin colour’ will not play for the national team
- He said ‘a foreign player, with a foreign passport, another skin color, will not play’
- Ivanov has received backlash for the comments, but he stood by what he said.
- Former Bulgaria captain Stiliyan Petrov said he was shocked and saddened.
The technical director of the Bulgarian Football Union, Georgi Ivanov, has been criticized for commenting on the skin color of players who could play for the national team.
The increase of foreign players in Bulgarian football over the years has led to a debate as to whether local talent is being blocked from improving their game.
Ivanov, via Balkans perspectivetook the stance that foreign footballers ‘will not play’ for the national team, before commenting on the skin color of the players.
The technical director of the Bulgarian Football Union, Georgi Ivanov, has been criticized for comments about the skin color of the players.
Ivanov said that “a foreign player, with a foreign passport, another skin color, will not play” while he is director
“I agree with my words that my wish is to see Bulgaria with Bulgarian players,” he said. ‘As long as I am a manager, a foreign player, with a foreign passport, another skin color, will not play.
‘I don’t want players from other countries to replace the Bulgarians. Some countries may do this, but to me it is a faulty practice.’
Ivanov, a former striker, retired in 2009 and has worked primarily as a coach ever since, briefly taking charge of the national team in 2022.
The Bulgarian national team is currently led by Mladen Krstajic, who is from Serbia.
In 2019, the Bulgarian Football Union was accused by UEFA of racist chants during a match against England.
Union president Borislav Mihaylov resigned in 2019 after the union was accused of racist chants against England, but is now back in office.
Union President Borislav Mihaylov resigned after the incident, but withdrew in 2021 and resumed his post.
About Ivanov’s words, via Sofia balloonFormer national team captain Stiliyan Petrov said: ‘I am truly shocked and saddened by the words of the technical director of our football federation, which I condemn in the strongest possible terms.
‘For anyone to believe such things is completely wrong, but for a senior leader of an organization with such responsibility and influence to think that such discriminatory speech is acceptable is simply the height of absurdity.
“It reflects the rotten and ignorant culture that exists among our soccer leaders today. Football should be for everyone.’
Former Bulgaria midfielder and captain Stiliyan Petrov criticized Ivanov for his comments.
Ivanov has since said: ‘It’s definitely not a question of racial or ethnic discrimination.
‘My principled position is clear. Footballers of Bulgarian origin and Bulgarian self-awareness are required to play for the Bulgarian national team, regardless of whether they were born in the country or not.
I stand by my words that my wish is to see Bulgaria with Bulgarian players and I think the football public will agree with that.
I am aware that my line can be interpreted in many ways, especially when taken out of context, but it is important to me to distinguish between clubs and national teams.
‘While you are at the club you can transfer players from all over the world, something I also did as manager. At nationals it’s a cause that can’t be bought or faked.’