On November 16, Bulgaria will host Hungary in a European qualifier at the Vasil Levski National Stadium. The Hungarian Football Federation made the announcement. The game will begin at 19:00 p.m. local time in front of empty stands.
According to the Hungarian Federation in X:
"UEFA informed the Hungarian Federation this morning that the Thursday European Championship qualifying match in Sofia will be played behind closed doors at the request of the Bulgarian Federation." The game begins at 18:00 Hungarian time.
The encounter against Bulgaria, which was crucial for the Hungarian national team, created an unusual scenario in international football. UEFA altered the site of the match for the first time last week, and for the second time today, at the request of the Bulgarian federation, and ordered the match to be played behind closed doors. It is crucial to note that, under the regulations, UEFA has the authority to make such a choice in an emergency case, such as a security threat, and the visiting federation has no right to oppose such a decision. In light of the foregoing, the Hungarian FA attempted to act in a sporting manner last week, and while it did not agree with the late change of venue, and especially the decision behind closed doors, it was forced to accept the decision and does not comment on the events publicly.
However, given the entire pandemonium around the location a few days before the match, it must be said unequivocally: what the organizing federation has done in recent weeks is unprecedented, completely unjustifiable, and terribly unsportsmanlike. Even a family vacation cannot be handled in this manner, let alone a high-stakes international soccer match involving thousands of participants and attracting millions of viewers. The Bulgarian FA has put both UEFA and the Hungarian FA in a difficult scenario by using the fact that both organizations value sportsmanship and are constantly seeking for methods to resolve the qualification issue on the field.
According to the regulations, if the Hungarian national team does not go to the already allocated location, they will forfeit the match without playing, which is obviously an unacceptable choice for all football-loving Hungarians. That is why the MLSS is adapting to the decision; the Hungarian squad is traveling for Sofia tomorrow and will take the field on Thursday; they will do all in their power to qualify for the European Championship, with the support of supporters from all around the world."
The Bulgarian Football Union also verified the story, issuing the following statement:
"Following the unprecedented decision by the municipality of Plovdiv to breach the preliminary agreement for the use of the Hristo Botev stadium and refuse the Bulgarian national team to hold its next match of the European qualifiers at the facility, and subsequent communication between all interested parties, including h. state authorities, today UEFA ordered that the match between Bulgaria and Hungary be played at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia on 16.11.2023 a.m."
The European headquarters' decision is based on the most recent view of the SDVR, which is dedicated to maintaining public order before, during, and after the meeting. The SDVR's stated attitude is based on a change in circumstances, namely UEFA's decision not to let the public into the stadium.
Given the metropolitan police's assurances of maintaining order, the match will take conducted at the "Vasil Levski" National Stadium.
We remind you that, on the suggestion of UEFA, BFS relocated the initially scheduled match against the Hungarians from Sofia to Plovdiv. However, building operations prohibited the "College" match from being held beneath the hills. There was a possibility to play the European qualifying match at Kardzhali, but the match will be played in the capital at a different time than initially planned - 19:00 instead of 21:45.
Protests against the current BFS administration are anticipated to take place outside the stadium following the prohibition on public attendance. Hungarians are battling to qualify for Euro 2024, while Bulgaria is out. Ilian Iliev, the new selector, will make his official debut in this match. /BGNES
