Bulgarian Government Backs Bid To Host UEFA Euro 2020 Match In Sofia

Bulgaria's Socialist-led government "has thrown its weight behind a possible bid by Sofia to be one of the cities hosting Euro 2020 matches," according to Angel Krisimirov of REUTERS. The government, led by non-partisan Plamen Oresharski, announced last week that "it had held preliminary talks with the Bulgarian Football Union to discuss whether the capital could host such event." Sports Minister Mariana Georgieva said, "The state categorically supports the BFU for the bid to host the Euro 2020 (match). The prime minister is personally involved in this case." Bulgarian authorities, who considered a joint bid for Euro 2020 with neighboring Romania before UEFA's format change, "are yet to decide whether they'll build a new stadium." The Vasil Levski national stadium, located in the center of Sofia, "has 43,230 seats but needs to be renovated to meet UEFA criteria" (REUTERS, 8/28).