Sex scandal, corruption and racism in Bulgarian Cricket

An "embarrassing" sex scandal engulfing Bulgarian cricket's maximum effective determine has triggered explosive accusations of corruption and racism within the Bulgarian Cricket Federation (BCF).

In late March, a Bulgarian modern affairs tv software discovered Professor Nikolay Kolev, BCF president, presented intercourse to certainly one of his college students in change for better marks with her physiology exam.

on the time, Prof Kolev changed into a lecturer at the national sports Academy (NSA), Bulgaria's gold standard higher schooling organization specialising in coaching coaching, bodily schooling and physical remedy. The 60-12 months-vintage changed into in the NSA's leadership of the academy for 12 years and a Dean of the faculty of training from 2009-2012.

since the television application's broadcast, Prof Kolev has been fired from the NSA. No charges over the incident were laid however Bulgarian police are investigating. An global Cricket Council (ICC) Europe spokesperson said "as police are investigating the incident, at this factor we can't make any comment relating to the allegations".

Prof Kolev has been below pressure to surrender as BCF's president however received a vote of aid at a latest board assembly. it's miles believed that maximum of the board is comprised with Kolev's backers and the best non-Bulgarian, Englishman Tim Buisseret, is thinking about resigning.

Prof Kolev is the founding president of the BCF, which shaped in 2002 and started receiving guide from ICC Europe. ultimately, Bulgaria was granted associate club in 2008. The BCF's annual budget is around (Euro) 33,000, that is ordinarily funded by using ICC Europe, in step with our sources.

concerns within Bulgarian cricket circles have resurfaced over transparency of finances and its distribution. "They do not anything, truely nothing with this amount of money, and on the give up of the year, they are saying that they have spent the money," a Bulgarian cricket source advised Cricbuzz.

Suspicions were relayed to ICC Europe in 2014, however it is believed an investigation did now not happen.

Misuse of funds has been a lingering situation for Bulgarian cricketers. In 2012, Bulgaria's national group competed in a ecu Championship division 3 Twenty20 match in Estonia in which their players had been alleged to be paid 30 Euros in line with day for the duration of a weeklong live in Tallinn. none of the players have been paid by way of the BCF, it's been alleged.

consistent with the ICC's website, the "BCF has 8 member golf equipment", that's the minimal range under the ICC's associate club standards. Cricbuzz knows there are only three energetic cricket clubs in Bulgaria, created from the country wide sports activities Academy, Kovachite Gabrovo and United Cricket club, which slightly participates in suits due to beyond conflicts with the BCF.

Sofia Cricket club (SCC), a former countrywide powerhouse, turned into banned in 2013 because it was critical of the BCF, consistent with Stoyan Iankov, chairman of the SCC. "handiest  of the golf equipment are becoming full help from the Federation - one is the ex-membership of Kolev - NSA, and the opposite one (Kovachite Gabrovo) is from his domestic city," Iankov informed Cricbuzz.

"complete guide means additionally huge economic assist. There are 4 or 5 clubs which might be registered in courtroom and in the (Bulgarian) sports ministry, but it truly is it. they're in simple terms registered with cricket names, but no person has ever visible them play cricket."

every other affiliate member requirement, below ICC regulations, is the supply of two grounds to play cricket suits. The BCF said within the 2014 ICC census that it had 10 grounds. throughout its research, Cricbuzz located handiest one actual cricket floor in Bulgaria, that's placed at and owned by means of the NSA, no longer by the BCF and is described by using Iankov as being in a "horrible, terrible circumstance".

"It was built a few years in the past for an ICC event and for that the BCF got an awesome economic injection," he stated. "in place of doing it nicely, the ground is very basic and no person knows what has took place with that cash."

Junior and ladies's cricket development are other staples of associate membership but are not allegedly being cultivated in proper accordance by way of the BCF. affiliate participants must have not less than four junior groups playing in a structured competition however Cricbuzz is aware simplest two junior groups play in Bulgaria.

An ICC Europe spokesperson said "the 2015 member census data continues to be inside the process of being checked and audited by way of the ICC, and till this has been accomplished, we're not able to post any data, however currently Bulgaria are compliant with the associate membership criteria".

Festering in the backdrop are allegations of racism inside Bulgarian cricket, with players from the sub-continent subjected to discrimination. "Coaches inside the beyond have made very ugly and racial abuse to players from India and Pakistan," according to a Bulgarian cricket parent.

Iankov stated a racist mantra had been enforced years ago. "5 or six years ago, Kolev and the human beings round him were honestly clean when they instructed me that nobody from the 'blacks' may have any have an impact on inside the destiny of Bulgarian cricket," he said. "certainly, nobody (from a sub-continent historical past) has an important role within the BCF."

Saif Rehman, president of the United Cricket club in Sofia, is a cricket pioneer in Bulgaria after coming to his adopted country from Pakistan inside the late Nineteen Nineties. He stated a veneer of racism existed, even though it changed into now not overt.

"Racism isn't directm but there may be a cause why there was a loss of Indians and Pakistanis playing cricket," Rehman said. "The BCF has usually removed them from tournaments."

ICC Europe did now not respond to Cricbuzz's questions concerning racism allegations in Bulgarian cricket.

Rehman stated Prof Kolev's sex scandal had tarnished cricket's perception in Bulgaria. "The intercourse scandal was embarrassing and has also affected cricket's name in this country," he stated. "He (Prof Kolev) have to renounce from his role as president of BCF. If we evaluate