A significant fine, rarely seen in Bulgarian football, is likely to be imposed on FC Black Sea following a racist incident during their home match against FC Botew (Plovdiv).

The incident occurred when guest player Antoine Conte left the field due to racist abuse from the opposing supporters. Conte also called on his teammates to leave the pitch at Ticha Stadium.

The match was halted for over 15 minutes as the visiting team's coaching staff and players tried to convince Conte to return to the field. The game eventually resumed and ended 2-0 in favor of FC Black Sea, securing the fifth position in the league for the Varna-based team.

The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) has made it clear that such actions are punishable with a hefty fine. The fine for this type of incident is €19,173.44, the most significant monetary penalty a Bulgarian club has faced in recent years. Both Levski Sofia and CSKA have previously been fined for similar incidents, but the severity of the situation in Varna has been unparalleled.

In addition to the financial penalty, FC Black Sea could face further sanctions. The BFU emphasized that such actions are completely unacceptable and contradict the values of football, fair play, and respect. They reiterated their zero-tolerance policy towards racism and discrimination in any form.