We checked this claim: is it true that
Marin Petkov left Bulgaria's national football team camp ahead of their match against Luxembourg?
The Bulgarian Football Union confirmed Petkov was released for personal reasons ahead of becoming a father to a newborn daughter
Marin Petkov leaves Bulgaria squad thin for Luxembourg
Forward exits national camp for daughter's birth as suspension leaves side down three regulars.
In a nutshell
Forward Marin Petkov departed Bulgaria's national team camp ahead of their Oct. 6 game against Luxembourg to attend the birth of his daughter, Izabel. Coach Atanas Ribarski approved the leave, which leaves Bulgaria short three regular players alongside suspended teammates Lukas Petkov and Dimitar Velkovski.
Highlights
- Petkov played for Bulgaria against Iceland on Oct. 3 before flying with the squad to Luxembourg.
- Suspensions had already ruled out teammates Lukas Petkov and Dimitar Velkovski for the Luxembourg fixture.
- The Bulgarian Football Union confirmed on Oct. 5 that Petkov was excused following the birth of his daughter, Izabel.
- Petkov will miss the Oct. 6 Nations League match and rejoin Saudi Arabian club Al-Taawoun after the international window.
From the Editor’s Diary
Personal milestones occasionally override competitive fixtures, forcing coaches to adapt on short notice while respecting player welfare.
Who's involved
Marin Petkov
Bulgarian international forward playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun
goal → Wanted leave from the national camp to attend the birth of his first child
Atanas Ribarski
Interim head coach of the Bulgarian men's national football team
goal → Managing match preparations while balancing squad discipline and player welfare
Bulgarian Football Union
Governing body of association football in Bulgaria
goal → Maintaining squad administrative integrity and official communications
In short
Bulgaria must contest their upcoming international fixture with a thinned attack after key forward Marin Petkov left the squad to attend the birth of his first child.
The departure leaves interim coach Atanas Ribarski fielding a short-handed roster for the Oct. 6 match in Luxembourg, where the team will lack three regular players.
This makeshift lineup is certain to face Luxembourg without Petkov because the national federation formally sanctioned his return home and confirmed his absence.
How it unfolded
Bulgarian Sports Media Reports Sudden Departure
Bulgaria landed in Luxembourg on Oct. 4 facing unexpected squad disruption when sports outlets Sportal.bg and Dsport.bg reported that Petkov had left the training base. Ribarski granted immediate permission for an undisclosed personal matter, shifting Bulgaria's pre-game focus from match preparation to managing an incomplete traveling party.
From Camp Depletion to Celebration
The forward's exit compounded a selection crisis for Ribarski, who was already barred from selecting the suspended Lukas Petkov and Dimitar Velkovski. The uncertainty ended on Oct. 5 when the Bulgarian Football Union, the country's national soccer authority, revealed that Petkov had returned to Sofia for the birth of his daughter, Izabel, confirming he would miss the fixture while congratulating the new father.
Where things stand
Petkov is with his family in Bulgaria and will not feature in the Nations League, a European national soccer tournament, match against Luxembourg on Oct. 6. Ribarski is finalizing Bulgaria's match setup with reduced options before Petkov rejoins his Saudi club Al-Taawoun after the international break.