The Bulgarian transfer that never was
For many years, people have known that anything is possible in Bulgarian football. The sport been haunted by corruption for many years and, judging from the events in the 'A Grupa' (first division), the administrative skills within clubs still leave much room for improvement
On February 24, Botev Plovdiv were expelled from the first division for non-payment of debts and failure to register enough players. It is a case that dates back to September 2009, though, that has dominated the domestic headlines and left the Bulgarian police bewildered over bogus transfers, odd results, betting gangsters and a football culture lacking political transparency.
Back in September, the two big clubs in Sofia - Levski and CSKA - were preparing for their first derby of the season. But the day before the big clash, four of the Levski players jumped on a plane bound for Moscow to sign for last year's Russian title winners, Rubin Kazan.
Along with three club representatives, Bulgaria international right-back Zhivko Milanov, Morocco central defender Youssef Rabeh, Macedonia midfielder Darko Tasevski and Brazilian winger Ze Soares made the near 1,500 km trip to Kazan International Airport. On arrival, they were met by Rubin Kazan 'representatives', who accompanied them to the Sheraton hotel, where they passed medicals. So far so good.
However, the next day, the Bulgarian players were told that the deal had fallen through. There were no documents, no contracts and a broken phone-line for the Rubin Kazan 'representatives'. The Levski delegation had no other choice than to make their way home, with the players arriving back in Sofia too late to take part in a game CSKA won 2-0. Unsurprisingly, the Sofia sports reporters were full of questions following the deal that never was.
For example, how could it be that, several rounds before the end of the Russian championship, Rubin needed four players from a mediocre Levski side? How exactly would it have been possible for such a deal to go through outside of UEFA's official transfer windows? Why did the Russians pull out of the contract negotiations and why were the transfers scheduled for the eve of one of their biggest games of the season?
There is apparently no doubt that the fax inviting the four players was authentic and sent from Rubin Kazan's offices. Yet Mircho Dimitrov, a Bulgarian football agent who has worked in Russia for many years, said: "I spoke with the executive director of the club and with the coach of Rubin, Kurban Berdiyev. They said: 'We don't know anything. We don't want players from Levski because we don't need them.'"
I can't explain this," Levski president Todor Batkov said. "I didn't meet any representatives beforehand or receive an official confirmation from Rubin's president. Maybe this was a very well-executed scam. Seven people [from Levski] were met with expensive Mercedes cars and accommodated in a very expensive hotel. I did have doubts and my plan was, if there was any problem, for the four players to return to Sofia before the match with CSKA. I checked UEFA's rules [on transfer windows] and felt we had a right for extraordinary transfers [said to be because of swine flu].
"For all four players, the price was to be €4 million (£3.53 million) and the Russians told me that the money was in Sofia in a concrete bank, even in a concrete safe. Their representatives met each of the players and I have given names, descriptions, photos and phone numbers to Interpol. Maybe this whole thing is an attack against Levski, or me. I was threatened over the phone by a Russian who advised me to stop the investigation."
Batkov later admitted that he had deposited £179,000 with a man called Artur Oganesyan.
The problem is, however, that the Bulgarian police have had massive problems trying to track down the mysterious Mr Artur Oganesyan, which has led the Bulgarian media to accuse Batkov of betting £895,000 on CSKA to beat Levski. Batkov himself pointed the finger at Dimitar Borissov and Ivo Ivanov - the owners of CSKA, who were under investigation for having "fixed" the Europa League fourth qualifying round game in which CSKA won 2-1 away to Dinamo Moscow.
The Bulgarian Police are left with a long list of suspects but hardly any pieces of evidence in the farce concerning the false Rubin Kazan representatives. The case is, however, far from closed as the Levski results took a very strange turn in the weeks after 'The Eternal Derby' against CSKA. A 0-1 reverse to Chernomorets Burgas, a 2-2 draw with Lokomotiv Plovdiv and a 0-1 defeat to Beroe followed - all rare defeats against weak opponents, which strengthened the suspicion of foul play.
One of the theories of a conspiracy is that major Levski shareholder Mickael Chernoy, who is very close to the bosses of Rubin Kazan and has a tempestuous relationship with Batkov, may have been involved in an attempt to drive the share price down ahead of a bid to buy the club.
The theory may seem somewhat creative and out of touch with reality, but Bulgarians are generally not unaccustomed to these scenarios. As such, Hristo Kovatjki, a business tycoon, politician and football investor was last year arrested for embezzlement. And Kovaltjki isn't just anybody. He is the second richest person in Bulgaria and a symbol for a small group of the population who, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, have gained massive financial as well as political power in the poor country.
Kovatjki's story is only one of many. Bulgarian football has for years and years fought to hold off betting-gangsters. The best league in the country - 'A Professional Football Group' - is allegedly a preferred target for organised crime and match-fixing due to the low wages in the league.
And methods are brutal. During the last 20 years, four presidents from the club Lokomotiv Plovdiv have been murdered. The latest incident came in 2005 when the 39-year old Georgi Iliev - allegedly deeply involved in a struggle between two criminal organisations - was shot dead in a bar at the holiday resort Sunny Beach. Whether the Rubin Kazan affair will develop in a similarly violent way is doubtful, as is the Bulgarian Police's ability to find the villain in the case. Is it Levski president Batkov? Is it the Russians? CSKA? Or the mafia?
Whoever is responsible, the pressure from the media became a bit too much for Serbian coach Ratko Dostanic, who was replaced by sporting director Georgi Ivanov after a shock 1-0 home defeat by Beroe. This was fifth coach to take over Levski in 18 months and the fans' patience with president Batkov is wearing thin in the wake of the Rubin Kazan affair.
The supporters feel he has made the club look like the idiots of Europe. Whatever your feelings on Bulgarian football, it is certainly never dull.
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Guardian care to explain
