A plan to ban gambling advertising in Bulgaria is being fiercely opposed by the Bulgarian Football Union.
Advertising of gambling is not permitted under current law, but there is a loophole that is exploited – often during the day or during family-viewing times – which has brought about the proposals to ban the practice.
Similarly, betting sites are advertised around football grounds.
But the BFU said in a statement this week that 65 per cent of the football clubs in Bulgaria are benefiting from partnerships with bookmakers and most of the clubs, both professional and amateur, depend entirely on income from this source.
Many of the clubs would go under, says the BFU, if advertising ws banned.