September 11 – Bulgarian playing legend Hristo Stoichkov has donated his shares in CSKA Sofia to the club’s majority owner the ‘National Fund for Sport, Culture, Art and Science’ in order to prevent any accusations of a conflict of interest as begins a new job with FIFA.
Stoichkov (pictured) will be responsible for FIFA’s projects in Eastern Europe after accepting the role following an invitation from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Stoichkov will remain part of CSKA Sofia, but as a management board member.
“CSKA legend Hristo Stoichkov will join world football’s elite management team as head of FIFA projects in Eastern Europe. Until now, Mr. Stoichkov was a shareholder in CSKA, but since it formally represents a conflict of interest to be the owner of a football club and at the same time hold a position in FIFA, he transferred his shares to the majority owner of CSKA,” said a club announcement.
“With the aim of more efficient and transparent management of CSKA, a Management Board was established at the foundation – owner of the club, consisting of: Hristo Stoichkov, Danail Iliev and Angel Borisov. This way, Mr. Stoichkov will retain his influence, weight and trust in CSKA.”
Stoichkov issued his own statement saying: “Army men, I have accepted the invitation of the first man in the management of world football, Gianni Infantino, to be in charge of FIFA’s projects in Eastern Europe. The position is strategic for the future and the authority of both European and Bulgarian football. FIFA is the organization that with its decisions determines the course of development of our beloved game and everything must be transparent and fair. A cause for which I will work unreservedly.
In this regard, for formal reasons, I am donating my shares in CSKA Sofia FC to the majority owner, so that there is no conflict of interest. This is what FIFA rules require and I will abide by them, but I guarantee you – I will not break my relationship with my beloved club that launched me into big football. I accepted a position on the foundation’s board because my heart and soul are ‘red’,”
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1734932752labto1734932752ofdlr1734932752owedi1734932752sni@o1734932752fni1734932752