Bulgarian Football Union Bans Betting Among Personnel Under New Statute

The Bulgarian Football Union is preparing a statutory amendment to prohibit sports betting for all players, coaches and club personnel. Federation officials say the measure is necessary to protect the integrity of domestic football competitions.

The proposal will be presented during the BFU plenary meeting scheduled for 20 March in Sofia. This initiative forms part of the federation’s attempt to reinforce its disciplinary framework. 

Amendment Introduces Direct Ban On Football Related Betting

The amendment will be introduced by BFU general director Andrey Petrov and federation president Georgi Ivanov. Their proposal aims to transform existing disciplinary guidelines into binding federation law.

The revised statute establishes a direct prohibition on betting or gambling activities connected to football for players, coaches, club officials and other associated individuals.

Previous rules addressed corruption risks such as match manipulation and doping violations, but did not target sports betting specifically.

If the amendment is approved, clubs will have to adopt compliance systems with education and monitoring procedures to ensure that personnel avoid football-related betting.

Enforcement Actions Prompt Regulatory Change

The legislative push follows enforcement actions against individuals involved in illegal betting within Bulgarian football.

In September 2025, joint investigations conducted by the BFU and government agencies resulted in sanctions against dozens of players and coaches that wagered matches during the 2024/2025 season. The disciplinary measures raised serious concerns about match-fixing and prompted stronger cooperation between the BFU, the National Revenue Agency and the police.

Bulgarian regulators have also introduced measures to address gambling risks among players and fans. Last year, the National Revenue Agency extended the mandatory self-exclusion period to one year.

Federation Takes Control Of Betting And Data Rights

In the past, clubs or leagues sometimes negotiated agreements directly with data providers. Under the new framework the BFU will manage these rights centrally. 

The statute designates betting and data rights as part of the commercial, media and digital rights controlled by the BFU for its competitions. This authority also covers all forms of technology used to distribute match data. 

Existing commercial agreements may require modification once the statute is implemented. Future deals involving live data feeds or betting-related content must be negotiated directly with the union.

Education Efforts Target Match Manipulation Risks

The BFU has also reaffirmed its role as the central body responsible for negotiating media rights on behalf of clubs. They will oversee agreements involving broadcasters, sponsors and betting operators. Revenue distribution from these central deals will follow regulations established by the BFU.

This initiative reflects international efforts to prevent match-fixing through education and prevention. Former professional footballer, Moses Swaibu, who was convicted in 2015 for match-fixing in the UK, has raised awareness on the issue.

Following his conviction, he created the GameChanger 360 programme, which educates athletes about the risks and warning signs of manipulation and betting-related corruption.