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CSKA Sofia suspend nine players

"They're suspended from the first team for ruining the atmosphere in the club and for violating our rules ... by coming home later than allowed," CSKA coach Luboslav Penev told a news conference.

The bans, which came after their 2-0 away loss to Litex Lovech, followed media reports that several CSKA players had been spotted drinking in the early hours at nightclubs twice in the last 10 days.

"I have never stopped saying since March (when Penev took charge at CSKA) that training sessions would be hard and that's why players should take enough rest to be ready for the next day," the coach said.

"If we're to going to war, I need soldiers, I need stalwarts," he said. "We're a team who search for good results but with such unprofessional behaviour this is not going to happen."

"We don't need players who don't take their duties seriously," said Penev, adding that the suspended players would be fined in the coming days.

Brazilian Marquinhos, Portugal's David Silva, Todor Timonov and Svetoslav Petrov were also banned.