Bulgarian football team paid fine to leave Baku
Bulgarian football players have paid 12,000 euros to
take an overnight flight from Baku, Russian RIA Novosti news agency
reported.
An incident between employees of the Heydar Aliyev International Airport of Baku and Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia occurred due to the ban for flying over the Azeri capital from midnight to 7 a.m. enacted for summer time.
Levski`s owner Todor Batkov and his team were indignant due to the ban, as they were unable to leave the country in time, as well as due to what they believe was sluggish work of the airport`s service personnel.
The Bulgarian players were offered another option - to pay a 12,000 euro fine if they indeed were keen on leaving before morning. Batkov refused to do so and decided to phone Bulgaria`s Prime Minister Boiko Borisov in the middle of the night to request his assistance in solving the problem. Borisov, in turn, contacted Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. However, these attempts failed, as Mammadyarov declined to accept a violation of Azerbaijan`s laws, and the club had to pay the fine to leave for Sofia.
Upon arrival, Batkov pledged to make a complaint to UEFA President Michel Platini, but he is not aware, at this point, against whom he needs to level his claims.
The Levski team was in Baku July 29 to play the first match of the Champions League third qualifying leg. The club drew its first game with Azerbaijan`s Baki team 0:0. The return match will take place in the Bulgarian capital on Wednesday, August 5.
An incident between employees of the Heydar Aliyev International Airport of Baku and Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia occurred due to the ban for flying over the Azeri capital from midnight to 7 a.m. enacted for summer time.
Levski`s owner Todor Batkov and his team were indignant due to the ban, as they were unable to leave the country in time, as well as due to what they believe was sluggish work of the airport`s service personnel.
The Bulgarian players were offered another option - to pay a 12,000 euro fine if they indeed were keen on leaving before morning. Batkov refused to do so and decided to phone Bulgaria`s Prime Minister Boiko Borisov in the middle of the night to request his assistance in solving the problem. Borisov, in turn, contacted Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. However, these attempts failed, as Mammadyarov declined to accept a violation of Azerbaijan`s laws, and the club had to pay the fine to leave for Sofia.
Upon arrival, Batkov pledged to make a complaint to UEFA President Michel Platini, but he is not aware, at this point, against whom he needs to level his claims.
The Levski team was in Baku July 29 to play the first match of the Champions League third qualifying leg. The club drew its first game with Azerbaijan`s Baki team 0:0. The return match will take place in the Bulgarian capital on Wednesday, August 5.
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