Fußball auf dem Balkan

The summer of 2015 was extremely dramatic for the fans of CSKA Sofia, which is the most successful football club in Bulgaria. The 31-time Bulgarian champions and three time semi-finalists in European competition did not get a professional license, and consequently was relegated to play in the third amateur level of football in the nation. How could this happen? There are several protagonists and all of them bear the guilt in one way or another—several owners, the state, the Bulgarian football federation (BFU), and even the club’s faithful fans share the blame.