Reigning Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia and current league leaders Litex Lovech drew 2-2 in Sofia in in what was arguably one of the most entertaining league encounters this season, but the match was overshadowed by bad refereeing and violence in the stands.

Litex took the lead with a Plamen Nikolov goal in the 10th minute, but Levski Sofia won the battle in the middle pitch, regrouped and fought their way back in the match through a Ze Soares equaliser in the 47th minute. Hristo Yovov's corner, spilled by Litex goalkeeper Uros Golubovski, gave Levski the lead in the 56th minute, only for Wilfried Niflore to equalise with one minute left on the clock after two bad clearances by Levski players.

Both teams left the pitch disappointed for spilling points, but the mood in Levski would have been much worse, given the late equaliser.

The entertaining game witnessed bitter confrontations on the pitch as well as and anger and violence on the terraces. Referee Nikola Yordanov called dozens of fouls and issued a shower of yellow and red cards.

Levski Sofia finished the match nine men, as both Vesselin Minev and Enyo Krustovchev were given their marching orders for two professional fouls each, while Litex lost Radostin Kishishev to a straight red card.

In the ensuing chaos on the pitch and with tension rising, Levski interim head coach Georgi Ivanov was sent off to the stands after becoming embroiled in a shouting match with the referee.

Against the backdrop of bookings, sendings-off and controversial refereeing, home supporters launched into chants of "mafia" and set off smoke bombs, while some Levski supporters attacked Litex fans in the main stand, marring the fact that the quality of football on the pitch was a rarely-seen entertaining delight on Bulgarian grounds.

The referee narrowly escaped lynching after the encounter, while Georgi Markov, chairperson of the board in Levski Sofia told sportal.bg: "There must be a directive (in the Bulgarian Football Union) saying Litex must be champions this year. In 50 years I have never seen anyone take such liberties with Levski. We simply cannot allow a bunch of peasants to take the mickey out of this club in the middle of Sofia".

The match was initially scheduled to be played in August, but had to be postponed because of scheduling conflicts. After 13 matches, Litex top the table with 33 points, opening a lead of three points over CSKA Sofia and six over Chernomorets Bourgas. Levski is fourth with 23 points.