The international soccer association FIFA has banned Bulgarian head coach Hristo Stoichkov for four matches after making what FIFA has described as "defamatory remarks" following a World Cup qualifier in Sweden earlier this month. In addition to the ban handed down last Friday, Stoichkov was fined 20,000 Swiss francs (12,856 euros, $9,274). The Balkan country's most successful player received the punishment after making what the soccer's world governing body called "remarks made by Stoichkov to the media in which he attacked the integrity of the UEFA president and FIFA vice-president Lennart Johansson." After a 3-0 loss to Sweden, Stoichkov was quoted by reporters to have said that Johansson, a Swede himself, had manipulated the match. The Bulgarian Soccer Union (BFU) has apologized to Johansson and UEFA for Stoichkov's behavior.