Ghanaian forward Bernard Tekpetey was subjected to racial abuse from sections of Levski Sofia supporters during and after Ludogorets Razgrad’s victory in the Bulgarian Super Cup on Tuesday.
Tekpetey scored the decisive goal as Ludogorets lifted the trophy at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, but the celebration was overshadowed by disturbing incidents directed at the winger.
In a statement, Ludogorets said Tekpetey was targeted with monkey chants and racially offensive insults from Levski fans during the match.
The situation reportedly worsened after the final whistle, with the player receiving death threats and racist messages on his personal social media accounts.
Condemning the incident, Ludogorets described the actions as “unacceptable behaviour” and expressed concern that children were reportedly among those involved, calling it a troubling indication of the spread of discrimination in Bulgarian football.
The Bulgarian champions confirmed that official complaints have been filed with the police and the prosecutor’s office over the threats made against the Ghanaian international.
“Ludogorets will not stop fighting against racism,” the club said.
The club also reaffirmed its full support for Tekpetey, stressing that he will not face the ordeal alone, and called for collective action and dialogue among Bulgarian clubs to curb repeated racist incidents and uphold the values of the game.
