Levski awarded 3-0 win in abandoned Bulgarian game
Refereeing decisions protested
SOFIA, Dec 17, (RTRS): Levski Sofia have been awarded a 3-0 home win over Litex Lovech after their league match was abandoned when the visitors walked off the pitch in protest at refereeing decisions, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) said on Thursday.
On Saturday, Litex were down to 10 men but leading 1-0 close to halftime when referee Georgi Yordanov sent off another of their players and awarded Levski a penalty, prompting the club’s sporting manager Stoycho Stoilov to matches for an unspecified period.
Litex coach Ljupko Petrovic has criticised the BFU for making the championship “pointless” and “uninteresting”.
It had already demoted CSKA Sofia, the most successful Bulgarian club, and city rivals Lokomotiv to the amateur championship in the close season due to huge debts.
“It is inexplicable,” the Serb, who led Red Star Belgrade to a European Cup triumph in 1991, said after Litex were expelled.
“What will these 20 internationals at the club do in the coming months? I feel sorry for them.
“The right decision was a 3-0 win for Levski, a fine for Litex and a lifetime ban for the referee.”
The table will change significantly if the BFU’s appeal commission confirms Litex’s sanction next week, as is widely expected, because all the club’s results would be annulled.
Ludogorets would then have a five-point lead over Levski before the winter break with Slavia Sofia jumping into third place.
Trust in the BFU has been shaken in recent years following a number of controversial decisions. It has faced widespread accusations from the media, pundits, officials, players, coaches and fans of being too lenient in handing some clubs small fines or warnings, whilst acting uncompromisingly against others. He might do good with the lowerranked guys if they do the same thing they did with the (featherweights) and pick and choose his guys, but if they throw him in the (lightweight) top 10, no way.”
McGregor’s celebrity has grown past every UFC fighter except Ronda Rousey, largely because he has recorded devastating stoppage victories in five straight fights and six of his seven UFC bouts. His vicious striking power has backed up his bold public pronouncements about taking over both divisions.
“I’m looking to replicate what I’ve achieved in a previous (promotion): a two-weight world champion held consecutively,” McGregor said moments after beating Aldo. “I said I would do it, and I will do it.”
Cerrone understands why McGregor is entertaining the prospect of a lightweight title run. McGregor acknowledges that his weight cut to 145 pounds is grueling, and his coach would prefer that McGregor no longer attempt such dramatic weight loss in the days before his fights.
“It’s like me going to 170 (pounds),” Cerrone said of the higher welterweight division. “I could do it, sure, but those guys are coming down from 200, 210 pounds. That’s why they make weight divisions, man.”