At least 14 people have been injured as a result of clashes between football fans and police in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, with some of the wounded being in serious condition, Radio Bulgaria reported Thursday.
The fan protests broke out ahead of the national team’s game against Hungary, which was to be played in an empty stadium, with protesters demanding the resignation of the leadership of the Bulgarian Football Union. The protest action grew into violent clashes with police, with fans throwing cobblestones at police officers, and police responding with pepper sprays and a water cannon, the report said.
Both police officers and protesters were injured in clashes. So far, paramedics treated 14 victims, the broadcaster cited Katia Sungarska, the head of the central medical center of Sofia, as saying. Some of the wounded were in serious condition, she said, adding that ten ambulances were dispatched to the area of the protests.
Protesters also set garbage cans on fire, smashed store windows and threw firecrackers and stones at the Turkish Embassy, the report said.
The broadcaster cited Stefan Ivanov, the deputy head of the capital department of the Interior Ministry, as saying that dozens of people were injured and detained in clashes.
