A former President of the Bulgarian Football Union has been attacked ©BFS

Former Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) President Valentin Mikhov has been hospitalised after being attacked close to his home in Sofia.

According to the Bulgarian channel bTV, Mikhov's condition is not life threatening following the attack, reportedly carried out by three assailants.

The 66-year-old, who served as the head of the BFS from 1993 to 1994 and is a member of the governing body's Executive Committee, told bTV he could not rule out a link between the attack and December's Presidential election.

In a statement, the BFS condemned the attack on its former President and called for swift action from the country's authorities to find the perpetrators.

Veteran Bulgarian football official Valentin Mikhov suggested his attack could be linked to the BFS Presidential election ©Wikipedia
Veteran Bulgarian football official Valentin Mikhov suggested his attack could be linked to the BFS Presidential election ©Wikipedia

"The BFS strongly condemns the attack on the former President of the BFS and member of the Executive Committee Valentin Mikhov," the BFS said, according to Russia's official state news agency TASS.

"Such an act does not correspond to democratic principles and is a gross encroachment on a person with great merit in the development of Bulgarian sports and culture."

The BFS is due to elect a new President following the resignation of Borislav Mihaylov last October.

Mihaylov stepped down after being urged to quit by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov following racial abuse directed at England's black players during a 2020 UEFA European Championship qualifier last October.

Mikhov, a former player, has previously held the roles of President of the Bulgarian Professional Football League and CSKA Sofia, the country's most successful club.