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UEFA Cup draw overshadowed by Bulgarian killing [Fri Aug 26th, 2005]
Monaco (Reuters) - Friday's draw for the first round of the UEFA Cup was overshadowed by the killing of Georgi Iliev, the president of Lokomotiv Plovdiv of Bulgaria, who were paired with England's Bolton Wanderers.
"We are totally shocked. We know nothing about the club but even so this is terrible news in these circumstances," said Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, moments after the draw.
Plovdiv, who finished third in Bulgaria last season, qualified for the first round after beating OFK Belgrade 1-0 on Thursday night in the second qualifying round to go through on the away goals rule.
Iliev, 39, was killed by a single shot while talking on the phone, 40 minutes after congratulating his players on their victory. Police said a sniper was probably involved.
Plovdiv will hold a memorial service on Sunday, according to the club's website, and coach Edward Eranosian has cancelled all team activities.
The televised draw, officiated by UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson, went ahead without any reference to the shooting.
UEFA Cup holders CSKA Moscow will begin the defence of their trophy against FC Midtylland of Denmark.
CSKA, in Monaco for Friday's Super Cup match against European champions Liverpool, became the first Russian side to lift a European trophy when they defeated Sporting 3-1 in the final in Lisbon last May.
Sporting, back in the UEFA Cup after being knocked out in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, were also drawn against Scandinavian opponents. They will meet Halmstad, currently involved in a battle against relegation in Sweden.
Bayer Leverkusen, who won the UEFA Cup in 1988 and were runners-up in the Champions League final in 2002, face a tough task against CSKA Sofia who were eliminated from the Champions League third qualifying round by Liverpool on Tuesday.
The 40 teams who survive the first round will advance to a group stage comprising eight groups of five clubs before the competition reverts to a knockout phase next spring. The final is in Eindhoven on May 10.
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