This archive report was first published on 15 October 2019.
On October 15, 2019, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov urged the country's football union president, Borislav Mihaylov, to resign following a Euro 2020 qualifier against England that was twice halted due to racist abuse.
"I urge Borislav Mihaylov to hand in his resignation immediately!" Borisov wrote on Facebook, adding that it was "inadmissible that Bulgaria... is associated with racism and xenophobia".
The match in Sofia, which England won 6-0, was halted after England players were targeted by racist chanting.
Borisov condemned the behaviour of those present at the stadium, insisting that EU member Bulgaria was "one of the most tolerant countries in the world".
He announced that the government would sever all ties, including financial, with the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) over what he called "a shameful loss" and the overall poor standing of Bulgarian football until Mihaylov resigned.
England manager Gareth Southgate praised his side for deciding to complete the match instead of leaving the pitch in the face of the abuse, calling it "an unacceptable situation".
Mihaylov, who has headed the football federation since 2005, has overseen a period in which Bulgaria has failed to qualify for any major tournament.
