Kevin LustigLevski Sofia prepares for possible CL sub duty (Updated 5/6)
June 5th 2008 15:15
Bulgarian club Levski Sofia may have to take the place of last season's first-place side CSKA Sofia if CSKA are banned as expected from the upcoming Champions League. Despite dominating the Bulgarian league this season, CSKA find themselves in debt and quite possibly afoul of league requirements due to their finances. The Bulgarian Football Union is looking into revoking CSKA's domestic license and removing their name from the list of the BFU's submissions to UEFA competition in 2008/09.
Levski Sofia are the club that stand to benefit from this turn of events, having finished second in the league to their rivals. Levski made history in 2006 by being the first club from their nation to reach the Champions League group stages. 2008/09 was the first year they were to miss Europe's top competition since that time. However, despite this unexpected turn of events potentially lifting them to another consecutive year of Champions League play, the response from the management has been lukewarm. According to Nova TV, Levski Sofia owner Todor Batkov stated:
"Morally and from a sporting point of view we're not ready for the Champions League."
Batkov then went on to say that Levski Sofia would compete in UEFA's top flight if CSKA are banned, but only in order to fill Bulgaria's quota and to avoid club sanctions.
CSKA have promised to appeal any revocation of their license, and the BFU have requested more time from UEFA to allow their top club to meet the regulations. However, optimism is low for CSKA, and it seems more likely than not that Levski, perhaps reluctantly, will be taking part in the Champions League for at least one more season in a row.
Update 5/6: The BFU have confirmed CSKA's ban from next year's Champions League and are now looking into removing CSKA from their country's professional leagues until its finances are in order. Soon after the announcement was made, CSKA president Alexandar Tomov resigned from his position at the head of the club to be replaced by former CSKA striker and club chief executive Emil Kostadinov. CSKA fans will be pleased with Tomov's departure as he was widely viewed to be personally responsible for the poor state of the club's finances. A protest is expected on Friday as fans congregate in the Bulgarian capital to express their displeasure with this disappointing turn of events for Bulgaria's most successful club.
As previously speculated, Levski Sofia will take part in the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round.
Levski Sofia are the club that stand to benefit from this turn of events, having finished second in the league to their rivals. Levski made history in 2006 by being the first club from their nation to reach the Champions League group stages. 2008/09 was the first year they were to miss Europe's top competition since that time. However, despite this unexpected turn of events potentially lifting them to another consecutive year of Champions League play, the response from the management has been lukewarm. According to Nova TV, Levski Sofia owner Todor Batkov stated:
"Morally and from a sporting point of view we're not ready for the Champions League."
Batkov then went on to say that Levski Sofia would compete in UEFA's top flight if CSKA are banned, but only in order to fill Bulgaria's quota and to avoid club sanctions.
CSKA have promised to appeal any revocation of their license, and the BFU have requested more time from UEFA to allow their top club to meet the regulations. However, optimism is low for CSKA, and it seems more likely than not that Levski, perhaps reluctantly, will be taking part in the Champions League for at least one more season in a row.
Update 5/6: The BFU have confirmed CSKA's ban from next year's Champions League and are now looking into removing CSKA from their country's professional leagues until its finances are in order. Soon after the announcement was made, CSKA president Alexandar Tomov resigned from his position at the head of the club to be replaced by former CSKA striker and club chief executive Emil Kostadinov. CSKA fans will be pleased with Tomov's departure as he was widely viewed to be personally responsible for the poor state of the club's finances. A protest is expected on Friday as fans congregate in the Bulgarian capital to express their displeasure with this disappointing turn of events for Bulgaria's most successful club.
As previously speculated, Levski Sofia will take part in the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round.
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