2019–20_Second_Professional_Football_League_(Bulgaria)

2019–20 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

2019–20 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

Football league season

The 2019–20 Second League was the 64th season of the Second League, the second tier of the Bulgarian football league system, and the 4th season under this name and current league structure. The season began in July 2019 and ended in May 2020,[1] but without playing all the scheduled games. The two promotion/relegation playoffs (involving teams from the First League as well) were held in July 2020.

Quick Facts Season, Champions ...

After the possibility of holding matches without spectators was initially envisioned,[2] on 13 March 2020, the Bulgarian Football Union decided to suspend all fixtures until 13 April in accordance with the measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] On 3 April 2020, the state of national emergency was extended until 13 May 2020[4] and on 11 April the Minister of Youth and Sports Krasen Kralev confirmed that no mass participation sports events and full training sessions will be held until that date.[5] On 15 May 2020, the Bulgarian Football Union announced that the league will not be completed, with the standings after 22 rounds to be considered final.[6] Reportedly, 10 of the lower-ranked clubs expressed a preference for this scenario due to the financial and personnel difficulties experienced by them as a result of the crisis, though Septemvri Sofia[7] and Lokomotiv Sofia were opposed.[8] CSKA 1948 gained promotion to the First League while Septemvri Sofia and Montana faced the teams who finished in the 13th (Tsarsko Selo) and the 12th (Dunav Ruse) places respectively in the highest league in promotion/relegation playoffs, with the former losing the playoff and the latter promoted.[6]

The season was marred by controversies, as several teams were disqualified from the Second League and admitted to lower divisions. Vereya was disqualified before the season started and relegated to the fourth division. During the season, Pomorie declined to further participate, resulting in demotion to the Third League for next season, due to financial problems. Similarly to Pomorie, Botev Galabovo and Chernomorets Balchik decided to withdraw from the league (during the period when the games were halted) due to financial issues.

In July 2020, after the season, three Lokomotiv GO players,[9] twelve Minyor Pernik playing personnel,[10] two Neftochimic footballers,[11] four members of the Hebar squad[12][13] and four Septemvri footballers as well as a trainer[14] were reported to have tested positive for COVID-19.

Teams

The following teams have changed division since the 2018–19 season.

Note: FC Vereya, who were disqualified from the First League for match fixing, failed to obtain a professional license from the Bulgarian Football Union with the team instead entering the Southeast group of the Third Football League. As a result the Second League will consist of only 17 teams with no replacement team for Vereya's vacated spot.[15][16]

Stadia and locations

Location of teams in 2019–20 Second League
More information Team, City ...

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information Team, Manager ...

Note: Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey for official tournaments organised by UEFA in addition to that of the kit manufacturer (exceptions are made for non-profit organisations). Clubs in the domestic league can have more than one sponsorship per jersey which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area. Shorts also have space available for advertisement.

Managerial changes

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: bulgarian-football.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[32]
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Neftochimic ahead of Hebar on head-to-head points: Neftochimic–Hebar 2–1.
  2. Litex ahead of Kariana on head-to-head points: Kariana–Litex 1–1, Litex with more away goals.
  3. Botev Galabovo ahead of Pirin Blagoevgrad on head-to-head points: Botev Galabovo–Pirin 0–0, Pirin–Botev Galabovo 2–2, Botev Galabovo with more away goals.
  4. Botev Galabovo was disqualified to the Third League, after the team voluntarily decided to cancel their participation in the Second League, due to financial difficulties.
  5. Strumska Slava ahead of Chernomorets Balchik on head-to-head points: Strumska Slava–Chernomorets Balchik 1–0, Chernomorets Balchik–Strumska Slava 2–1, Strumska Slava with more away goals.
  6. Chernomorets Balchik was disqualified from the league, due to financial problems. The team was demoted to the Third League.
  7. Spartak Pleven deducted 3 points for a first no-show without an excusable reason (round 8, against Montana).
  8. Pomorie deducted 3 points for a first no-show without an excusable reason (round 19, against Kariana).
  9. On 25 February 2020, Pomorie were disqualified and relegated from the league for not showing up to two consecutive matches. All results from played matches involving Pomorie were retained, and the team's opponents until the end of the season will be awarded 3–0 wins.[31]

Results

More information Home \ Away, GAL ...
Source: bulgarian-football.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

More information Team ╲ Round, CSKA 1948 ...
Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2020. Source: bulgarian-football.com

Results by round

More information Team ╲ Round, Botev Galabovo ...
Updated to match(es) played on 9 March 2020. Source: bulgarian-football.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Transfers

References

  1. [1]
    "Изпълнителният комитет на БФС прие промени в нормативните документи за сезон 2019/2020". Bulgarian Football Union official website (in Bulgarian). 14 May 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  2. [2]
    "Всички спортни събития в България ще се провеждат без публика". dariknews.bg. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  3. [3]
    Petrov, Todor, ed. (13 March 2020). "БФС спря за месец първенствата в Първа и Втора лига". bgonair.bg. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  4. [4]
    "Парламентът удължи извънредното положение в България до 13 май (хронология)". dnevnik.bg. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  5. [5]
    "Министър Кралев удължи срока на забрана за провеждане на спортни мероприятия". topsport.bg. 11 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  6. [6]
    "Решения след заседанието на Изпълнителния комитет на БФС" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union official website. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  7. [7]
    "БФС скочи на Румен Чандъров" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  8. [8]
    "Бойчо Величков: Локомотив (София) и Септември са единствените губещи от спирането на Втора лига" (in Bulgarian). bnr.bg. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  9. [9]
    Georgiev, Martin (3 July 2020). "Още родни футболисти са заразени с коронавирус. Заразените са от "Царско село" и "Локомотив" (Горна Оряховица)". nova.bg. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  10. [10]
    "12 футболисти от пернишкия "Миньор" са с коронавирус". news.bg. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. [11]
    "Двама футболисти на Нефтохимик са с COVID-19". bnr.bg. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  12. [12]
    Yordanova, Veselina (21 July 2020). "Трима футболисти на "Хебър" са с коронавирус. Чакат се резултатите от още две проби". dnes.bg. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  13. [13]
    Kaburova, Tanya, ed. (24 July 2020). "Още един футболист на Хебър е с COVID-19". telemedia.bg. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  14. [14]
    "Още един български клуб е поразен от COVID-19, отборът спря с тренировките". sportal.bg. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  15. [15]
    "Отказаха лиценз за Втора лига на Верея, групата остава със 17 отбора" [Denied Second League license to Vereya, the group remains with 17 teams]. Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  16. [16]
    "Вижте пълния състав на Югоизточната Трета лига" [View the full lineup of the Southeast Third League]. Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 15 July 2019.[permanent dead link]
  17. [17]
    "Бивш халф на Славия и Ботев (Пд) поема Спартак (Вн)" [Former Slavia and Botev Plovdiv midfielder takes over Spartak Varna] (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 3 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
  18. [18]
    "Милен Радуканов е новият старши треньор на Септември София" [Milen Radukanov is the new head coach of Septemvri Sofia] (in Bulgarian). fcseptemvri.com. 4 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
  19. [19]
    "Монтана се раздели с треньора" [Montana parted ways with the coach] (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 5 June 2019.
  20. [20]
    "Владимир Иванов пое Монтана" [Vladimir Ivanov takes over Montana] (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 12 June 2019.
  21. [21]
    "Кадър от футболната академия на Лудогорец поема втория отбор" [Disciple of the Ludogorets football academy takes over the second team] (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 14 June 2019.
  22. [22]
    "Пирин с нов треньор" [Pirin with new head coach] (in Bulgarian). pirinfc.com. 20 June 2019. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  23. [23]
    "Саша Симонович и Ботев Гълъбово се разделят" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 2 July 2019.
  24. [24]
    "Ботев Гълъбово бързо си намери нов треньор" (in Bulgarian). kotasport.com. 4 July 2019.
  25. [25]
    "Падна първата треньорска глава във Втора лига" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 2 August 2019.[permanent dead link]
  26. [26]
    "Локомотив (Горна Оряховица) има нов старши-треньор" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 6 August 2019.
  27. [27]
    "Старши треньорът Диян Божилов подаде оставка" (in Bulgarian). spartakvarna.bg. 3 August 2019.[permanent dead link]
  28. [28]
    "Неделчо Матушев е новият треньор на Спартак (Варна)" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 13 August 2019.
  29. [29]
    "Петко Петков подаде оставка като треньор, ЦСКА я прие" (in Bulgarian). cska1948.bg. 20 October 2019.
  30. [30]
    "Йордан Юруков е новият треньор на ЦСКА" (in Bulgarian). cska1948.bg. 21 October 2019.
  31. [31]
    "Извадиха ОФК Поморие от Втора лига" [OFC Pomorie has been taken out of Second League] (in Bulgarian). Sportal.bg. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  32. [32]
    "Second League – Season Rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
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