Balgarianovinite.com A Bulgaria football team lost to an international All Stars side 3-4 during a Match of Hope in Burgas on Saturday in support of various charitable causes. The initiative came from Stiliyan Petrov, former captain of the Bulgarian national squad, an inductee at England’s Aston Villa Hall of Fame and winner of four Scottish Premier League titles and six other trophies with Celtic.
Part of the funds raised from the event will be directed towards supporting the medical treatment of ex-football stars Lyuboslav Penev and Petar Hubchev.
Before the game at Lazur Stadium in the coastal city, the President of Bulgaria, Iliana Iotova, said: “I am here to personally support this cause. I am seeing Stiliyan Petrov in person for the first time. Until now I have only watched him in football matches and followed his career throughout the years. This initiative is not only charitable; it shows that we can unite around a cause and be in solidarity – not only with those in need, but also with everyone else.”
President Iotova sees “something very symbolic” about the fact that the match was taking place just a few days before the FIFA World Cup. She said she adores football.
A number of well-known names from Bulgarian and world football and public figures from other spheres of life took part in the fundraising match. The evening at Lazur Stadium began with a live show by Bulgarian singer Papi Hans.
The event was attended by the Youth and Sports Minister Encho Keryazov, Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov and Deputy Mayor for Tourism and Sports Manol Todorov, and members of the Bulgarian parliament.
In March 2012, Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia, suspending his football career to undergo treatment which was ultimately successful. In August 2012, it was announced that the midfielder’s leukaemia was in remission. He announced his retirement from football in May 2013, and led his family out on the Villa Park pitch for a lap of honour, to applaud the Aston Villa fans who supported him during his illness, on the final day of the 2012–13 season. Later, he worked as a coach. Petrov has initiated several charity football matches. Bulgarian and International Football Veterans Gather in Burgas for “Match of Hope” Charity Event 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-06-06 16:56:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law