CSKA Sofia has returned to Bulgaria's top football division after its licence was revoked last year due to outstanding debts.

This decision comes after meetings of the licence and legal committees of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS).

The club was relegated to the third football division where it was unchallenged, recording 31 victories and one draw and finishing twenty points ahead of the second-placed team.

CSKA also became the first team from third division to win the Bulgarian Cup after defeating Montana 1-0 in the final in May.

CSKA was admitted to participate in the top division after merging with the teams of Chavdar Etropole and Litex Lovech.

Litex itself was relegated to the second football division at the end of last year after its players left the pitch and abandoned a match against Levski.

The legal committee of BFS is firm that the changes in the name and seat of Litex Lovech into CSKA Sofia have been carried out in compliance with national legislation and internal rules of BFS.

Together with CSKA, thirteen other clubs have been admitted for participation in the new format of Bulgaria's top football division, which from next season will bear the name of First professional league.

All nine teams competing in the last season of the A Group will take part in the new format.

This includes incumbent champion Ludogorets, runner-up Levski as well as the two other teams which will represent Bulgaria in the Europa League qualifications – Beroe and Slavia.

Dunav Ruse, Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa, Vereya Stara Zagora and Neftochimic Burgas are the four teams which were promoted to the top division.