CSKA Gets Kicked out of UEFA Tournaments

FC CSKA, which won the Bulgarian championship title this year, will relegate to the third division and will be banned from participation in the UEFA Champions League. This punishment fell on the heads of the Red club yesterday at noon, as it was announced by officials from the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) - Krassin Krustev, Chairman of the BFU Licenses Committee, Nikolay Georgiev, Chairman of the BFU Appellate Licensing Committee and head of directorate with the Council of Ministers, and Borislav Popov, BFU Executive Director - at a press conference. The Reds will hardly get away with this unprecedented scandal in the history of the Bulgarian football.
In a desperate attempt to save face, the management of FC CSKA sent a heart-breaking letter to UEFA President Michel Platini, begging him for a delay by June 5 to settle the affairs of the club. In the letter they entreat him for the delay considering the Bulgaria's reality and the club's rich history and undeniable authority, but no reply was received until late last night.
The Standart was told that FC CSKA President Alexander Tomov and Emil Kostadinov, member of the FC CSKA Supervisory Board, had assured BFU President Borislav Mihaylov of that the club's debts would be paid by today, and in a few days the club would have a new owner.
CSKA, however, hardly believe that the letter will move Mr. Platini, but their chances to escape a relegation to the third division are fairer. To stay in the A group, they should settle all financial matters of the club and rely on the mercy of the BFU Executive Committee. The Committee may allow the Red to stay in the elite, but such a decision may compromise their authority before UEFA.
Tatyana Veleva
Ivaylo Yolchev
standartnews.com