A number of Bulgarian football clubs, including in the country's top division, face losing their stadium licences over safety concerns, Krassin Krustev, secretary of the licensing commission of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) was quoted as saying by Dnevnik daily on March 11.

Stadiums will receive their appropriate licences in accordance to the safety regulations set up by the Sofia Municipality regulatory commission, Krustev said.

"If they say that it a certain football ground is hazardous for the fans or players, then it will be shut down. We would rather have unused grounds, rather than ones which could cause fatalities," Krustev was quoted as saying by Dnevnik.

But the procedure, the evaluation itself and the parameters of the evaluation remain complicated. The commission has reportedly prepared an evaluation and submitted it to the Sports Ministry on March 11.

Inside a three-day period, the aforementioned will have to be forwarded to the Regional Development Ministry which will give its own assessment on the matter.

Subsequently, within seven days the assessment will need to be returned back to the Sports Ministry where the final evaluation on the football stadiums will be made.

Reportedly, it was revealed that the evaluating commission has "serious complains for every single sports facility in Sofia".

"We have complains and suggestions for all stadiums in the capital. Have them take care of the issues first, and then allow them to stage sports events" Pelagiya Cherneva, head of the commission was quoted as saying by Dnevnik.

"It is not appropriate to have fans visit such grounds," she added.

All top flight Bulgarian football grounds this season had their licenses extended. Pernik's Peace Stadium was delayed, but approved eventually, whereas the Blagoevgrad and Bourgas grounds are closed for reconstruction.

"In the worse-case scenario, there will be a number of grounds in major cities which are facing closure. It is not a pleasant thought, but it is necessary," Krustev said.

The licensing commission is tasked to have a final ruling on all football grounds 15 days before the beginning of the next football season at the latest, Dnevnik said.