CSKA Sofia football club has released a statement on its official website on June 3, in which it staunchly defended its supporters in Lovech on May 31. "The latest attack against CSKA has started a phase of total war against the club and its most precious asset, the supporters" the statement says.

"The provocation in Lovech against the club and fans prove that our supporters have stood by us loyally – and it also showed that because of certain Neanderthals delegated in certain positions, and their subsequent abuse of power, Bulgarian football will once again suffer bitter reprisals," the statement says.

Needing a win to keep their championship hopes alive, CSKA lost their match in Lovech against local side Litex, effectively handing arch-rivals Levski Sofia the title

A disallowed CSKA goal prompted violence on the terraces from the visiting supporters, which then spilled onto the pitch, and after the final whistle, on the streets of the northern Bulgarian town.

As a consequence, CSKA Sofia fans have been banned from future matches on the Lovech stadium, Litex said in a statement earlier on June 3.

Following the match, 27 supporters were arrested for hooliganism. CSKA blamed local police for the trouble, however. "Police dogs were encouraged to attack Reds supporters before the trouble started, Lovech police officers themselves were involved in destruction of public property and hooliganism, and therefore the club will not be subjected to the unjust stigmatisation by the so-called impartial and unbiased media".

"Such outright sacrilege and debasement of our fans, cannot, and will not, be tolerated by us, ever," the club said.