Sofia (AFP)
Six supporters were arrested following racist excesses on Monday in the Euro-2020 qualifier against England, the Bulgarian police said on Wednesday, adding that the investigation was still ongoing.
"Six people are being detained, three are wanted and investigations are continuing to establish the complicity of others," Sofia police chief general Georgy Hadzhiev told reporters, citing the total involvement of fifteen individuals.
Thanks to video surveillance in the Vassil-Levski stadium, nine people were able to be identified in a safe way for addressing monkey cries and Nazi signs to black English players.
Fifteen thousand people attended the meeting, lost (6-0) by Bulgaria. The incident triggered an avalanche of reactions from supporters and politicians in the UK and Bulgaria.
UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria on Tuesday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned a "vile" racism, while his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borissov pushed the resignation of the director of the Bulgarian Football Federation on Tuesday.
In a statement, the head of the Bulgarian national team Krasimir Balakov apologized Tuesday to the players of the England team as well as to all those who may have been offended.
The Vassil-Levski stadium was already partially closed to the match because of racist insults during the match against Kosovo in June.
© 2019 AFP