Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's use of the government's official Airbus to transport his amateur football team for a friendly game was completely illegal, according to Tsvyatko Lukanov, a former head of the 28th Air Detachment.

The so-called 28th Air Detachment is a branch of the Bulgarian Air Force which operates government aircraft and operations involving the President, Prime Minister and other high-ranking government officials.

Under the Bulgarian legislation, the 28th Air Detachment is not allowed to receive payment for its work, Lukanov explained in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio on Thursday. The detachment is not registered under the Trade Act.

Lukanov added that Borisov's amateur teammates are not among the officials allowed on the aircraft.

On Wednesday, Borisov stated that the team of Chavdar Etropole paid for the controversial flight, claiming there was "nothing wrong" with it.

It was made clear that Borisov's lower-tier team Vitosha Bistritsa (affectionately referred to as "the Tigers" by the PM) was flown to the Black Sea city of Varna on the government aircraft to play a friendly football game at the end of July.

Amateur striker Borisov and his teammates faced the team of Chavdar Etropole in Varna at the end of July. The friendly game was allegedly scheduled after Borisov lost a cards game against controversial MP Emil Dimitrov from the ruling centrist-right GERB party, who is the honorary president of Chavdar.

Borisov had bet to fulfill one wish of Dimitrov. The winner had then asked for the friendly game in Varna.

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