From Reuters: Levski Sofia technical director Andrei Zheliazkov is to face a Bulgarian Football union disciplinary hearing on Thursday over an allegation that he attempted to hit a referee. The incident took place after Levski were held to a goalless draw against local rivals Lokomotive Sofia at the weekend. The referee Georgi Narlev told local sports newspaper Meridian Mach that after the match Zheliazkov ran on to the pitch asking why he had not given Levski a penalty. "Curses followed...and he hit me...but his fist fell on my elbow. Policemen intervened immediately and one of them pushed him aside," Narlev told the sports daily. (the picture on the right: Levski's coach Stefan Grozdanov and Dontcho Donev.) Bulgarian international goalkeeper Borislav Mihailov has a muscle strain and will miss a World Cup warm-up match against Argentina on Tuesday, officials said. Head coach Hristo Bonev told the local sports newspaper Meridian Mach that CSKA Sofia's Radostin Stanev will replace the former captain. Zdravko Zdravkov, who plays for Turkey's Istanbulspor, is likely to be first choice 'keeper. The 35-year-old Mihailov, who became the first Bulgarian to win 101 caps, plays for Slavia Sofia after two injury-hit seasons at English club Reading. The March 10 match in Buenos Aires will be the second warm-up before this summer's World Cup finals for Bulgaria, whose team includes Barcelona striker Hristo Stoichkov.

From Reuters: Despite defeating Spartak Pleven 3-0, CSKA Sofia sacked their coach Georgi Vassilev at the weekend. "Vassilev was released as he has not fulfilled his duties," was the only explanation a CSKA spokesman gave. First division newcomers Litex Lovech, who lead the table, passed their toughest test so far by defeating Slavia Sofia 2-1 in the capital. Litex were two-up after just 17 minutes through goals by Svetoslav Todorov and Metodi Stoinov. They are now five points clear of nearest challengers Levski Sofia who drew at the weekend. The goalless Sofia derby between Levski and Lokomotiv ended with Levski technical director Andrei Zheliazkov running on to the pitch and chasing the referee. Even when police surrounded the referee to protect him from Zheliazkov, the Levski official continued his protest hammering his fists against police riot shields. (the pcture on the right: FC Levski in training)

(In Bulgarian) Kakvo jadat nashte futbolisti: Iliana & Nasko Sirakovi: parzholi, "Biserna rakija", Coca-Cola, svinsko sas zele, sarmi i parzholi sas smetana, Nasko pravel salatite; ne obichali sladko. Emo & Marianna Kostadinovi: zelevi sarmichki, musaka i gjuvetch; tashtata na Emo mu pravila zadusheno s morkovi i chesan. Svetlana & Dancho Letchkovi: zaek, pitka s maslo, kafe, ne na alkohola;! Dancho obichal naturalen sok i mineralna voda. Stefka & Zlatko Jankovi: musaka, kjufteta, salati, Zlatko miel chiniite, svekarvata pravila banitsa sas sirene. Tsanko Tsvetanov: svinsko, teleshko, parzheni kartofi, sladki deserti, krem karamel i tolumbichki. Tsanko sam si pravel salatite (s rakiika). Valjo Mihov (shef na PFL i predstavitel na UFA): obichal da pazaruva mnogo no v sabota samo. Tashtata na Itzeto Stoitchkov zaedno s dashterja si mu pravili ljubimite mandzhi. Svetla Dimitrova: meso, shokolad, grah i zelen bob. Sapruga i Ilian Pishtikov: kjufteta, parzholi, musaka. Niki Petrov & Stefka Kostadinova: restoranti. Stefka bila majstorka na sarmite. Maria Petrova & Bobby Mihajlov: italianska kuhnja: spaghetti, lasagne, riba, karameliziran portokal.

Medical tests performed in Bulgaria showed that Hristo Stoitchkov's left leg has only a mild hemathome, not a torn abductor as claimed by Barcelona's medical doctor Fernando Banos. As a respond to the accusations Dr. Banos said: "Probably they have used some supermodern technology in Bulgaria".

Although Stuttgart could only draw 0:0 with Borussia (M), Krassimir Balakov (on the right) was pronounced the best midfield of the Bundesliga round. In the general standings Balakov is first with 964 points. The runner up, Mario Bassler has only 638. Last night (March 5) Stuttgart drew 1:1 away with Slavia (Prague) in the first leg of the Cup Winner's Cup quater-final.

From Reuter: (i) It was a good weekend for leaders Litex Lovech. A comfortable 3-0 win over Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) maintained their position at the top, while rivals Slavia (Sofia) and CSKA (Sofia) cancelled each other out in their local derby (the picture on the right). Slavia, who had been rocked by the arrest of their president Stoyan Nikolov on embezzlement charges last week, showed few signs of anxiety as they matched CSKA in all areas. CSKA took the lead in the 33rd minute when Emil Kostadinov set up fellow international Boncho Gentchev and the ex-Ipswich Town midfielder fired home. But in the final minute of the game Slavia got a deserved equaliser when substitute Simeon Chilibonov took advantage of a defensive mix-up to score from close-range. Levski (Sofia) stay second, three points behind Litex, after they cruised to a 3-0 win over Spartak Pleven. (ii) Slavia Sofia officials said on Monday the club would survive financially despite the arrest of president Stoyan Nikolov and a board member on charges of embezzling $28 million from a bank. "Nikolov's arrest has nothing to do with football or Slavia," Ventsislav Stefanov, a member of the club's board, told the daily Meridian Match. "Nikolov has problems with the authorities as a private individual and he has to deal with his problems alone." Stefanov said that despite losing their main backer, the club would cope. "Money can be found.. Our players have never complained of delayed or unpaid salaries and such things will not happen in the future either." A Bulgarian police spokesman told Reuters on Friday that Nikolov had been charged with embezzling 41 million marks and six million dollars by using fake documents. Nikolov's business partner, Viecheslav Smerkov, who is a member of the Slavia board was also arrested. Nikolov, 28, became president of Slavia in the spring of 1997 after he left the board of local rivals Lokomotiv Sofia following a row with Lokomotiv's president. Meridian Match reported that Nikolov had invested more than 5 million marks in buying players for Slavia, including 700,000 marks on recruiting Bulgarian international Ilian Iliev from Benfica. Slavia are currently fifth in the Bulgarian first division.

The Bulgarian Olympic Gold medalist Ekaterina Dafovska arrived yesterday (27 Feb) in Bulgaria back from Nagano, Japan.

Jordan Letchkov (on the right) has surpisingly gone back to Bulgaria leaving his Turkish club Besiktas.

January & February news.

November and December news.

Old news: October news and yet more October (A), October (B) and October (C) news.

Older news: [May 1997], [June-July 1997], [August 1997], [September 1997].

Bulgarian Football News from Meridian Match.

Acknowledgement: Most of the infomation (along with the pictures) is from the Bulgarian Press (Meridian Match, 24 hours, etc.)