BREAKING NEWS: Levski Fans Urged to Show Respect After Tragedy — Powerful Emotional Appeal Calls on Supporters to Honor Iliyan Filipov, Stand With Botev Plovdiv and Support His Family
An emotional appeal has been made to supporters of Levski Sofia, urging fans to put football rivalries aside and show respect following the tragic death of Iliyan Filipov.
The message, directed toward the Levski community, emphasizes the importance of remembering that football rivalry and everyday life are two very different things. While competition between clubs can generate passion, emotion and intense moments inside the stadium, the appeal calls on supporters to maintain compassion and dignity when tragedy strikes.
The statement specifically calls for respect toward Filipov, Botev Plovdiv and his family during what has been described as an extremely difficult period. It also urges Levski supporters to remember that representing one of Bulgaria’s biggest football clubs carries responsibilities beyond what happens during a match.
“On the pitch is one thing, in life it is another,” was the central message behind the appeal, highlighting the importance of separating sporting rivalry from personal tragedy.
The appeal comes amid a wider discussion about fan behavior at football matches. Supporters are often deeply passionate about their clubs, and the atmosphere surrounding major Bulgarian fixtures can become highly emotional. However, the message insists that there are moments when rivalry must take a back seat to basic human respect.
The call also specifically discourages behavior involving the throwing of objects or actions that could cause harm. Instead, supporters are being encouraged to demonstrate maturity and remember the people affected by the tragedy.
For many football fans, moments such as these serve as a reminder of the human side of the sport. Behind every club badge are players, staff, supporters, families and communities whose lives extend far beyond the ninety minutes of a football match.
The appeal therefore asks Levski supporters to stand together in showing dignity toward Botev Plovdiv and Filipov’s family. Rather than allowing rivalry to define the response, the message encourages fans to demonstrate solidarity during a painful moment.
The relationship between Levski and Botev Plovdiv has naturally included fierce sporting competition, but the statement makes clear that such competition should remain within the boundaries of football.
The emotional message ends with a call for supporters to be “good Levski fans, not hooligans,” followed by the familiar declaration of loyalty: “Only Levski.”
As Bulgarian football continues to attract passionate support, the appeal highlights an important principle: football can create fierce rivalries, but tragedy can also remind supporters of the importance of respect, empathy and humanity.
For the Levski community, the message is ultimately a call to show that supporting a club is not only about defending its colors and celebrating victories, but also about demonstrating character when difficult moments affect people beyond the football pitch.
