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The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) is preparing to introduce stricter integrity rules that would prohibit football players, coaches, club officials, and other football personnel from participating in sports betting connected to the sport.
The proposed amendment will be presented during the BFU General Assembly in Sofia on 20 March. According to federation representatives, the initiative is designed to strengthen the integrity of Bulgarian football and reduce risks associated with betting-related misconduct.
Permanent Betting Prohibition
Under the proposed changes, the existing disciplinary restrictions on football-related betting would become part of the BFU's official statutes. The revised rules would establish a clear and permanent ban preventing players, coaches, club executives, and affiliated individuals from placing bets on football events.
If the amendment is approved, clubs will be expected to implement compliance programs, educate employees about the new requirements, and introduce monitoring procedures to ensure adherence to the regulations.
Continued Efforts to Protect Sporting Integrity
The proposal follows a series of enforcement actions taken in recent years. In 2025, joint investigations involving the BFU, the National Revenue Agency, and Bulgarian law enforcement led to sanctions against numerous football professionals who had placed bets during the 2024/25 season.
The federation views the latest statutory changes as another step toward reducing the risk of match manipulation and strengthening public confidence in domestic football competitions.
Bulgaria has also been tightening its gambling regulations more broadly. Among recent reforms, authorities extended the country's mandatory gambling self-exclusion period to one year, reinforcing responsible gambling measures.
BFU to Centralize Betting and Data Rights
The revised statute would also give the BFU exclusive authority over commercial betting and sports data rights for competitions organized by the federation.
Instead of clubs negotiating independently with betting companies or data providers, these rights would be managed centrally by the BFU. The federation would oversee agreements covering live data distribution, betting-related content, media rights, and digital commercial partnerships.
As a result, existing commercial agreements may require revisions, while future contracts involving football data or betting partnerships would need to be negotiated directly with the federation.
Stronger Framework Against Match-Fixing
The BFU also intends to maintain centralized control over media rights negotiations and revenue distribution related to betting and broadcasting partnerships. Federation regulations will determine how income from centrally negotiated agreements is allocated among participating clubs.
The proposed reforms reflect broader international efforts to combat match-fixing through stronger governance, education, and prevention initiatives. Sports organizations across Europe continue to introduce stricter integrity standards aimed at protecting competitions from betting-related corruption.
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