Three Bulgarian clubs given crowd bans

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian premier league clubs CSKA Sofia, Levski Sofia and Botev Plovdiv were given crowd bans after hooliganism marred their matches on the penultimate day of the season on Saturday.

Newly crowned champions CSKA have been ordered to play their next home match behind closed doors and fined 3,000 levs ($2,372) for the behaviour of their fans during the ill-tempered 1-1 draw against bitter rivals Levski.

CSKA, who have won their 31st league title, were fined a further 10,000 levs ($7,905) and given another one-match home ban after fans threw objects on to the pitch and broke the window of the Levski bus outside the stadium.

The punishments, imposed on Tuesday, will affect CSKA's first two home matches next season.

The Bulgarian Football Union's (BFU) disciplinary commission gave second-placed Levski a one-match crowd ban after hundreds of supporters damaged seats and clashed with riot police.

Levski, who were also fined 3,000 levs ($2,372), will host Slavia in the oldest Sofia derby in an empty stadium on Saturday.

Botev Plovdiv were given a crowd ban for the third time this season.

Botev, who played their matches against Marek Dupnitsa, Levski and CSKA behind closed doors, will start next season with a home match with no spectators after crowd violence marred their match against Litex Lovech.

They were also fined 11,000 levs ($8,696).

(Reporting by Angel Krasimirov)

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