Bulgarian VAR Official Under Fire for Alleged Gambling App Use

Much can be said about Bulgarian soccer. Sadly, there haven’t been many good stories since the country’s national team’s appearance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup when they finished in fourth place. In one recent case that is shocking yet not surprising, a video assistant referee (VAR) official was seen using a smartphone with what appeared to be a betting app.

Incident Recorded in VAR Operations Room

The incident was recorded during a live footage that showed the VAR operations room, where representatives of Hawk-Eye Innovations, the company responsible for VAR in Bulgaria, were monitoring a match for Parva Liga, the country’s top-flight league. The match was between PFC CSKA-Sofia and PFC Lokomotiv Sofia and was played on April 2, 2025.

Live footage has captured one of the individuals from the VAR operations room using a smartphone. Although the camera captured the incident for a brief moment before the person put away his phone, an app appeared on the screen of what looked like a betting application.

While using a betting app or even a smartphone while in the VAR room is a breach of the established regulations, there’s another concerning aspect of the incident. That’s an advertisement for a popular bookmaker seen at the back of the VAR room. The promotion of the betting operator inbet can be clearly seen during the live broadcast, raising further concerns.

Late last month, the self-exclusion period in Bulgaria was increased in another move that sought to improve the country’s gambling laws. People affected by problem gambling who register with the country’s self-exclusion program will now exclude for a minimum of one year.

Investigation Is Ongoing, the VAR Official May Be Fired

Hawk-Eye Innovations’ managing director, Ben Crossing, addressed the incident in a letter sent to the Bulgarian Football Union. In the letter, the executive acknowledged the live footage that captured an individual “appearing to engage in inappropriate activities which constitute gross misconduct in relation to the responsibilities of their assigned role.”

The company highlighted the seriousness of the incident and confirmed it has launched an immediate investigation. According to Crossing, the person seen using his smartphone has already been suspended while the investigation is ongoing. “If the individual has been found to have been engaging in such inappropriate activity, we will look to dismiss the individual in accordance with their contractual terms,” the letter explained.

Hawk-Eye Innovations reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring the integrity of soccer competitions and highlighted its trustworthiness in collaborating with the Bulgarian Football Union. In the words of Crossing, the company remains dedicated to providing reliable services and enforcing strict compliance protocols for VAR officials.