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CSKA Sofia coach
Lyuboslav Penev |
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Lyuboslav Penev, head coach of CSKA Sofia, has been told he cannot travel to London ahead of his team's UEFA Europa League group stage clash with Fulham, Dnevnik daily reported on December 1 2009.
Bulgaria's Interior Ministry had placed a travel ban on Penev, preventing him from leading his team to England. Penev is to face a court hearing on December 1, just two days before the Fulham encounter, for failing to settle a debt owed to Corporate Investment Bank.
The Bourgas administrative court ruled against Penev's appeal, saying it was "lacking any substance". Penev himself was not present during the court hearing, as his barrister Mihail Handjiyanev was there to represent him.
According to Penev's lawyer, the decision to prevent him travelling with his team will result in complications for the club as "he will not be able to fulfill his obligations as a coach as stated in the contract. Moreover, this could lead to the termination of Penev's contract with the club".
The issue first surfaced on November 20 after a court in the Black Sea city of Bourgas issued an order freezing Penev's property and company assets worth more than 2.3 million leva.
Penev has insisted the problem is based on a misunderstanding, not on the outstanding debt. On November 23, he told Bulgarian National Television that "the misinterpretation will be resolved by December 1 and I will be with the team in England".
CSKA Sofia will play at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground with no prospect of qualifying for the knock-out stage of the competition.
Switzerland's FC Basel are three points in the clear at the top of the group, with nine points from four matches, followed by Roma and Fulham with seven and five points, respectively. The Bulgarian side has only one point from four matches.