Bulgaria's football federation head on Thursday rejected accusations from Europe's governing body UEFA that home fans chanted racist abuse at black England players in a Euro 2012 qualifier last month.
"Do they see themselves as blessed? It is their fifth UEFA claim for racism. We will prepare our defence well because we are convinced there was no such thing," Borislav Mihaylov told reporters.
UEFA has already opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria over the September 2 match in Sofia and UEFA's disciplinary committee is due to hear the case on October 13.
Several of England's black players were subjected to monkey noises throughout their team's 3-0 win at the Vasil Levski Stadium, prompting English officials to complain to their Bulgarian counterparts after the match.
England's Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott said they had been aware of the abuse.
"As players, we could hear it on the pitch," Rooney said. "It has been going on for years and it is not right. It needs to stop and hopefully something can be done about it."
Bulgaria's national coach at the time, German Lothar Matthaeus, apologised after the match.
Mihaylov said on Thursday that Bulgaria would seek a postponement of the hearing in order to prepare their defence.
Source: AFP
