CSKA director Iliev criticizes refereeing after victory over Ludogorets

CSKA sports director Valentin Iliev expressed significant dissatisfaction with the refereeing performance following his team's 2-0 victory over Ludogorets. Iliev specifically drew attention to the yellow cards issued to CSKA players, describing them as a major point of contention in the post-match analysis.

The match was officiated by head referee Mariyan Grebencharski at the Vasil Levski stadium. Despite the criticism of the officials, Iliev praised his squad for their exceptional behavior and character, stating that these qualities were instrumental in securing the win.

Iliev argued that the current tendency to issue yellow cards for minimal contact contradicts the desire to increase the aggression and dynamics of Bulgarian football. He shared his personal opinion that several cautions during the match were exaggerated and worked to CSKA's detriment.

The director lamented that discussions about referees have become a banal routine after every match, fostering a public perception of bias. He emphasized that the focus should remain on the players, while reaffirming that CSKA's sole objective remains finishing in first place.