Plovdiv Football Club Botev on brink of Collapse After Acquisition Falls Through
Plovdiv, Bulgaria – June 25, 2025 – One of Plovdiv’s two moast prominent football clubs, Botev, faces potential financial ruin and relegation to amateur football following the collapse of a last-ditch acquisition deal. Negotiations with Ilian Filipov, co-owner of PIMK holding Group, failed after midnight, leaving the club’s future uncertain just before the start of the First League Championship.
Filipov publicly announced his withdrawal from the transaction,citing “unclear liabilities” exceeding BGN 5.5 million accumulated under current ownership. he alleges that despite offering to invest an additional BGN 5.5 million to save the club, he was met with “insolence and irresponsibility” from the current owner, Anton Zingarevich. Filipov even claims Zingarevich requested to take four additional players with him should the deal fall through, leaving Botev “without a coach, without players and without a future.”
“There is no way to take the club with unclear liabilities and sign an empty check,” Filipov stated, adding he has already personally invested over BGN 4 million in Zingarevich’s business ventures.
Zingarevich, represented by lawyer and former interior minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, confirmed the breakdown in negotiations and indicated they would seek alternative solutions.However, time is running out to assemble a team capable of competing in the First league.
Both parties released statements acknowledging the failed acquisition, with an agreement reached for an authorized representative of Filipov to temporarily co-manage the club alongside current procurator Alexey Kirichek. The future of Botev remains deeply uncertain.