Hristo Stoichkov will be Released from Duties as Honorary Consul to Spain

A procedure has been initiated to release football legend Hristo Stoichkov from his duties as Bulgaria's Honorary Consul to Spain, seated in Barcelona and covering the Spanish autonomous regions of Catalonia and Aragon, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry reported on 10^th of October.

Following an internal coordination procedure, the decision will be considered by the Council of Ministers, Foreign Ministry’s press office said.

Stoichkov, a former Barcelona Football star, described as a “total disgrace” the actions of the Spanish government after the independence referendum in Catalonia, at which clashes erupted between members of the public and the Spanish police. He made this public statement on the Mexican Univision TV channel by appearing in the video with the Catalan flag in his hand.

During the TV appearance, he also had harsh words for Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria saying she was a supporter of her country's long-time military dictator Francisco Franco. He later apologized for having made this sharp statement.

Stoichkov was appointed as Bulgaria’s Honorary Consul to Spain in July of 2011 based on a decision of the Bulgarian government. His work, however, has been impeded in recent years by the fact that he mostly resides in the US. In addition to that, Stoichkov's future work as honorary consul will be hindered by the complicated communication he has with the official Spanish authorities, as a result of his recent public statements, the press release says.