Krasen Kralev, the influential Bulgarian political leader and minister for sport and youth, has described the vital role of the news media in independently reporting on the positive and negative aspects of sport. In an exclusive NMC interview with Kralev, he stated: ‘We need the support of media to make sports popular and show all advantages that the sport will give to the kids and also in the fight against doping and match fixing; we rely very much on their support otherwise we cannot do the job.’
Under his leadership, the sport ministry has sought to build on the work of the Bulgarian Presidency in 2018, aimed at fighting issues of corruption in sport such as match-fixing and doping and wider sport integrity concerns.
Kralev, renowned for his straight-talking and engaging style, moved decisively last year when a group of Bulgarian football fans taunted English players during a qualifying match for the UEFA European Championships. It led to the president of the Bulgarian Football Union resigning. To read an exclusive interview between the News Media Coalition and Minister Kralev click here.
