Bulgarian media make interesting claim about Leeds United star Ilia Gruev while on international duty

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An incredible story has emerged in the last 24 hours of a Leeds United star being involved in a ‘serious scandal’ while on National Team duty, after a heated argument with his manager.

Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Ilia Gruev, and Dan James are on National Team duty this week, with Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka currently injured. Joe Rodon was forced to withdraw from the Wales squad.

Rodon is expected to be fit to face Fulham. Gruev has already played twice during the break, losing 3-0 to Spain and Georgia in World Cup qualifying, and his manager claiming that Gruev played with an injury.

Gudmundsson and Bijol are in action on Monday evening, before James and Darlow take on Jesse Marsch and Canada in a friendly on Tuesday night. But a remarkable story has now emerged from Bulgaria.

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Ilia Gruev involved in a ‘serious scandal’ after a heated argument

Having played 90 minutes against Spain, Gruev was surprisingly benched against Georgia before coming on at half-time. Bulgaria boss Ilian Iliev suggested Gruev could not start due to picking up a knock.

Now, Bulgarian outlet Tema Sport says there are rumblings from within the Bulgaria camp. Following the 3-0 defeat to Spain, Gruev launched an attack on his teammates and boss Iliev in the changing room.

He criticised his teammates before hammering manager Iliev, suggesting the players did not know what to do. Iliev removed Gruev from the squad for Georgia, but the president of the Bulgarian FA caught wind.

Georgi Ivanov overruled Iliev’s decision and reinstated Gruev, but Iliev only placed him initially on the bench against Georgia before he came on at half-time. It is unclear if Gruev also has an injury or a knock.

Ilian Iliev now under threat of Bulgarian sack after Gruev scandal

Iliev will have been feeling the pressure, anyway. Gruev has gone a whole year without winning a game for Bulgaria, injured during Bulgaria’s last win, which came in November 2024 against Luxembourg.

It will be interesting to see what happens ahead of the October break. Whether Iliev retains his position as Bulgaria boss, and if he does, whether Gruev is selected for the October games against Turkey and Spain.

For now, the situation will need to be assessed by Leeds and to discover if Gruev is carrying an injury, or if he was removed from the starting line-up due to the bust-up, ahead of the trip to Fulham on Saturday.