On Saturday, the owner of the company responsible for the construction of the Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv, Iliyan Filipov, said that he can now guarantee the safe conduct of the European qualifying match between Bulgaria and Hungary, which will take place on November 16.
On UEFA's recommendation, a last-minute decision was taken by the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) that the game will be played behind closed doors at the Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv, instead of the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia, as the BFU management fears that football fans will protest against them.
Filipov said that measures can be taken to secure the stadium and its adjacent areas, creating the necessary conditions for the football match between the national teams to be played. However, he added, before such measures can be taken, the company must receive an official order from Plovdiv Municipality.
This is a turn of events, as, on November 9, Filipov sent an official letter to the newly-elected Plovdiv Mayor, Kostadin Dimitrov, warning him that the match between Bulgaria and Hungary cannot be played at this stadium due to ongoing work for mounting of heavy elements on the canopy of one of the stands in the period between November 13 and November 20. The letter adds that the company cannot guarantee the safety of the stadium and the adjacent external infrastructure.
/KK/
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