CSKA Sofia players protest over unpaid wages
SOFIA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Bulgarian premier league leaders CSKA Sofia's players turned up 30 minutes late for training on Wednesday in protest over unpaid wages.
The players went on to the pitch with their pockets pulled out of their tracksuits to symbolise the lack of money.
"I hope that the club management can find a solution to the problem," CSKA captain Alexandar Tunchev told reporters. "We are ready to become champions and play in the Champions League but we don't want to be deceived."
Club sources said CSKA's management owed several cash bonuses to the players as well as monthly wages.
"I'll punish those responsible for this act of protest, even if I have to punish all the players," said CSKA president Alexandar Tomov.
CSKA executive board member Emil Kostadinov added: "The players should realise this is Bulgaria and that 10 or 15 days' delay of their payment is not a delay." (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Sonia Oxley)