Italy have already qualified for the World Cup as Group B winners. That leaves four teams, Bulgaria, Denmark, Czech Republic and Armenia competing for second place.

Second-placed Bulgaria, with 13 points, face Armenia and Czech Republic – who both have nine points – in their final two matches. Denmark are just one point behind Bulgaria and host Italy then Malta.

Armenians have a chance to keep themselves alive if they are able to defeat Bulgaria, but they will also need other results to go their way to maintain their chances through the next week.

“We know that the Ottoman Empire bears the stigma of this very heavy responsibility over the brutal atrocity with the killing of the Armenians over ethnic principle in this period of time. From now on, as far as whether this could be described as a manifestation of genocide from juridical point of view is concerned, I am convinced that since this term is legally codified in the recent decades, i.e. in a much later period, the term itself could be definitely the most proper one,” Raykov remarked.

“It is another matter of concern that what has been done cannot be questioned, since if it is questioned, then it would be a case of negationism,” the Bulgarian interim prime minister said.

“I do not share such a vision [on the issue]. I bow before the victims. I believe that both from Armenian and Turkish side, there is a need to make a common reading of the history,” Raykov said further.

“I will not participate in a government under which police are beating people,” Borisov said as he announced his resignation on Wednesday.

Wage and pension freezes and tax hikes have bitten deep in a country where living standards are less than half the EU average and tens of thousands of Bulgarians have rallied in protests that have turned violent, chanting “Mafia” and “Resign.”

On Tuesday, 11 people were hospitalized – including one man bleeding heavily from the head – and 11 arrested after protesters threw flares at police, who fought demonstrators with shields and truncheons.

Parliament is expected to accept the resignation later in the day.

Left back Minev, who escaped unpunished in a tense game featuring three red cards, was also fined 6,000 Swiss francs ($6,500) by soccer’s world governing body.

The suspension means that Minev, who turns 32 on Sunday and plays for Turkish club Antalyaspor, will miss Bulgaria’s qualifiers against Denmark on Friday and away to Czech Republic four days later.