TLDR
- Bulgaria’s football governing body seeks to prohibit all sports wagering by players, coaches and club personnel
- A vote on the statute modification is scheduled for the BFU assembly in Sofia on March 20
- The initiative comes after disciplinary measures were taken against numerous individuals who placed bets during the 2024/25 campaign
- Central authority over betting and data rights for BFU competitions will be consolidated under the union
- Football clubs must establish compliance frameworks featuring educational initiatives and oversight mechanisms
Bulgaria’s football governing body is set to institute a complete prohibition on sports wagering for all football-related personnel. The statute modification will be brought before delegates at the BFU’s assembly on March 20 in Sofia.
The regulatory change would encompass players, coaching staff, club administrators and other affiliated individuals. It represents a shift from existing disciplinary frameworks to codified federation legislation.
BFU president Georgi Ivanov and general director Andrey Petrov will introduce the amendment to the assembly. Union leadership has characterized the measure as critical for safeguarding competitive integrity.
While previous BFU regulations covered match manipulation and performance-enhancing substances, they lacked explicit provisions concerning sports wagering. The revised statute establishes what federation officials term an absolute prohibition on gambling activities connected to football.
Regulatory Push Emerges After Season-Long Enforcement Actions
The drive toward enhanced regulations follows disciplinary proceedings throughout the 2024/25 campaign. During September 2025, collaborative investigations involving the BFU and government authorities resulted in penalties for numerous players and coaches.
These individuals had been discovered placing wagers on football matches. The disciplinary actions intensified concerns regarding competitive manipulation within the Bulgarian football landscape.
The BFU partnered with law enforcement and the National Revenue Agency throughout these investigations. This partnership has persisted as the federation pursues permanent statutory solutions.
Bulgaria has implemented additional measures to strengthen gambling oversight. The Bulgarian National Revenue Agency extended the mandatory self-exclusion timeframe for problem gamblers to twelve months last year.
Should the amendment receive approval, clubs will face mandatory compliance program requirements. These frameworks must incorporate educational components and surveillance protocols to prevent personnel from wagering on football matches.
Federation Consolidates Authority Over Betting and Data Commerce
The proposed statute modification also covers commercial arrangements connected to wagering. It establishes betting and data rights as components of the exclusive commercial, media and digital rights portfolio managed by the BFU for its organized competitions.
Historically, individual clubs or league organizations could pursue independent arrangements with data service providers. Under the new framework, the BFU will exercise centralized authority over these rights.
This jurisdiction encompasses all present and future technological platforms and distribution channels. Current contractual arrangements with data vendors and wagering operators may require renegotiation.
Subsequent agreements involving real-time data distribution or betting-related materials must be channeled through the union. The BFU has reinforced its singular position in representing member clubs during media rights negotiations and transactions.
Revenue distribution from centralized commercial deals will operate under BFU-established guidelines. Broadcasting entities, wagering operators and commercial partners should anticipate modifications to revenue allocation structures.
The initiative also aligns with international campaigns against competitive manipulation. Former professional player Moses Swaibu, who received a conviction in a 2015 UK match-fixing prosecution, subsequently created the GameChanger 360 platform.
This platform provides athletes with training on manipulation risks and indicators of betting-related misconduct. The BFU’s statute amendment faces its decisive vote at the March 20 assembly meeting in Sofia.
