Lokomotiv Plovdiv president shot dead

Georgi Iliev, president of Bulgarian club Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1936, has been shot dead shortly after seeing his side seal a place in the UEFA Cup first round.

After losing the first leg 2-1 in Serbia and Montenegro, Lokomotiv Plovdiv defeated OFK Beograd 1-0 to progress on away goals. The president was celebrating the victory in a bar he owned in the nearby resort of Sunny Beach when he was shot.

There is no indication that the death of the wealthy businessman was football-related. The 39-year-old became president in 2001 after merging the club with his own team, PFC Velbazhd Kyustendil.

The newly-formed sidewon their first-ever Bulgarian title in 2004.