Friday 22 January 2016 22:32, UK
Levski Sofia plan to contest a decision in Bulgaria's top flight to annul the results of their rivals for players protesting at refereeing decisions.
The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) revealed on Friday that Litex Lovech's results for the season had been scrapped as punishment for the team walking off unhappy with officials in a game at Levski last month.
Litex had already been expelled from the top flight but the BFU said they can play in the second division next term and in this season's Bulgarian Cup having reached the semi-finals.
The decision to cancel Litex's results means champions Ludogorets are now five points clear at the top.
Ludogorets, champions in the last four campaigns, have 36 points followed by Levski on 31.
The situation has left Levski, who were level on points with Ludogorets before Friday's ruling, fuming and their statement read: "Levski will appeal the decision in all legal ways."
The championship resumes in February following a mid-season break.
Litex on Friday appointed former Bulgaria manager Luboslav Penev as their coach with the former Valencia and Atletico Madrid striker, who guided them to the title in 2011, aiming to win the Cup and secure a place in next season's Europa League.
Litex, one of most successful clubs in Bulgaria over the last two decades with four league titles and four domestic cups since 1998, became the third club to be thrown out of the country's top division in the last seven months.
CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria's most successful club with 31 league titles, and city rivals Lokomotiv had already been denied licences to compete in the professional championship and European competitions due to their huge debts.
