Sofia: A Bulgarian third division match was abandoned after only four minutes when quick injuries left an already depleted team with only six players on the pitch, local media reported.
Home side Gigant Belene began their highly-anticipated clash with Chavdar Byala Slatina on Sunday with only eight players, saying they were unable to field a fuller line-up due to a large number of injured and suspended players.
Gigant, second in the standings before the match, were quickly reduced to six after two players sustained injuries, leaving referee Stoyan Denev no choice but to blow the whistle.
Local rules hold that a match has to be halted if one of the teams has fewer than seven men on the field.
Visiting Chavdar were awarded the 3-0 victory, for the shortest soccer match ever played in the Balkan country, according to local statisticians.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, October 06, 2009, 12:28