Six policemen have been injured and seventy-seven football fans arrested after violence erupted in Levski and CSKA match in Sofia. Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (Sofia News Agency)
Six policemen were injured and 77 football fans arrested after violence erupted during the clash between Bulgaria's grands Levski and CSKA in Sofia Sunday evening.
The arrested fans, including several girls, remained in custody for 24 hours.
Football fans have criticized Sofia police over heavy-handed and reckless actions in the scuffle. A dozen of Levski FC supporters, who gathered Monday morning in front of a police station, blamed policemen of starting an indiscriminate fight with the fans after the end of the match.
The Interior Ministry said police entered sector B at the National Stadium only after three self-made bombs went off. An official statement of the ministry said policemen hunted for those who brought in the explosives.
The scuffle broke out after fans of FC Levski started shouting at the referee during halftime.
Bulgaria's football grands hit Sunday draw 1-1 to cement their standing with Levski holding 11 points in 5 games and CSKA storing 10 points, though with a game less.