Bulgarian President says 'draconian measures' needed after racist chants
SHOWS:
SOFIA, BULGARIA (OCTOBER 16, 2019) (PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
1. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) RUMEN RADEV, PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA, SAYING:
"It is an extremely unpleasant situation to have Bulgaria, which saved 50,000 Jews and did not allow even one of them to be sent to the death camps in the most horrible time in Europe, to be connected with racism. This problem should not be generalized but the state needs to implement draconian measures regarding football hooliganism. So long as some politicians use football fan groups in protests and counter protests, these relapses will continue."
STORY: Bulgarian President Rumen Radev weighed in on Wednesday (October 16) on the fallout from the racist chanting by Bulgarian fans when they hosted England on Monday night.
England thrashed Bulgaria 6-0 to hand them their heaviest ever home defeat as the match was marred by a section of home supporters taunting the visiting players with Nazi salutes and monkey chants.
Bulgarian police said on Wednesday they had detained six people in connection with the racist abuse faced by England's black players during the Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia with more arrests likely.
Radev cited the nation's history in helping protect Jews from fascist governments before adding it was time to implement 'draconian measures' to fight back against hooliganism.
The match on Monday at the Vasil Levski stadium was temporarily halted by the Croatian referee under a three-step protocol devised by European soccer governing body UEFA.
Bulgarian soccer chief Borislav Mihaylov and former international goalkeeper resigned on Tuesday.
Mihaylov had previously defended Bulgarian soccer from accusations of racism and criticised England for what he saw as a "fixation" on potential incidents that could raise tension.
The issue has long been a blight on European soccer, with racist incidents during matches reported sporadically and abuse levelled at players on social media.
