TLDR
Contents
- Bulgaria’s football governing body seeks to prohibit betting activity by all players, coaches and club personnel
- The statute modification will face a vote at the BFU assembly in Sofia on 20 March
- The initiative comes after disciplinary measures were taken against numerous individuals who placed bets during the 2024/25 campaign
- The federation will assume centralized authority over betting and data licensing for competitions under its jurisdiction
- Football clubs must establish compliance frameworks that include educational initiatives and oversight mechanisms
Bulgaria’s football governing body is advancing plans to impose a comprehensive prohibition on sports betting for all individuals involved in the game. The statute modification is slated for consideration at the federation’s assembly gathering on 20 March in Sofia.
The regulatory change would encompass players, coaching personnel, club administrators and other affiliated individuals. It represents a transition from existing disciplinary protocols to codified federation legislation.
BFU general director Andrey Petrov alongside president Georgi Ivanov will introduce the modification. Leadership at the federation has characterized the measure as critical for safeguarding competitive integrity.
Existing BFU regulations addressed match manipulation and prohibited substances but lacked explicit provisions concerning sports wagering. The revised statute establishes what federation officials describe as an absolute and unambiguous ban on betting or gambling endeavors connected to football.
Enforcement Action Follows Recent Season Violations
The drive toward more stringent regulations emerges following disciplinary proceedings during the 2024/25 campaign. In September 2025, coordinated initiatives involving the BFU and government authorities resulted in penalties for numerous players and coaching staff.
These individuals were discovered to have placed wagers on football matches. The disciplinary actions sparked significant concerns regarding potential match manipulation throughout Bulgarian football.
The BFU collaborated with the National Revenue Agency and law enforcement throughout these examinations. This partnership has remained active as the federation pursues a permanent regulatory framework.
Bulgaria has implemented additional measures to strengthen gambling oversight. The previous year saw the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency extend the mandatory self-exclusion duration for problem gamblers to twelve months.
Should the modification receive approval, clubs will face requirements to establish compliance infrastructure. These systems must incorporate educational programs and surveillance mechanisms to prevent personnel from engaging in football-related wagering.
Federation Assumes Centralized Authority Over Betting and Data Licensing
The statute modification also encompasses commercial licensing connected to betting operations. It identifies betting and data licensing as components of the exclusive commercial, broadcasting and digital rights controlled by the BFU for competitions under its administration.
In previous arrangements, individual clubs or leagues maintained the ability to negotiate independent agreements with data suppliers. Under the new framework, the BFU will exercise centralized management of these licensing arrangements.
This authority encompasses all existing and future technologies and distribution channels. Current agreements with data suppliers and betting companies will probably require renegotiation.
Subsequent contracts for live data distribution or betting-focused content must be channeled through the federation. The BFU has reasserted its singular position in representing clubs during negotiations and commercialization of media rights.
Regulations established by the BFU will determine revenue distribution mechanisms from centralized agreements. Broadcasting networks, betting companies and commercial partners should anticipate modifications to revenue allocation structures.
The initiative also aligns with wider international campaigns against match manipulation. Former professional player Moses Swaibu, who received a conviction in a UK match-fixing matter in 2015, has subsequently created the GameChanger 360 platform.
That system provides training for athletes regarding the dangers and indicators of manipulation and betting-related misconduct. The BFU’s statute modification faces a decision at the 20 March assembly gathering in Sofia.
