FIFA President Voices Support for Petrov's Fight with Cancer

Aston Villa`s captain Stiliyan Petrov and his family take their seats in the directors' box prior to their English Premier League soccer match against Chelsea at the Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, Britain 31 March 2012. Photo by EPA/BGNES

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has wished Bulgarian national team captain Stiliyan Petrov well in his battle against leukemia.

The chief of the game's governing body passed on his condolences at the news after the Aston Villa midfielder's shocking diagnosis was confirmed on Saturday.

"Very sad to hear about Stiliyan Petrov's illness. Wish him strength in his fight to win this battle," Blatter said in his official Twitter account.

The support shown at Villa Park by both sets of fans during Aston Villa's game against Chealsea is a sign of all that is good in football, the FIFA president has pointed out.

After Aston Villa's recent defeat against Arsenal, Petrov reported his unusually low energy levels to the team's medical staff, who advised him to rest for a couple of days, in the belief he was suffering from a virus.

His and Villa's worst fears were confirmed 48 hours later, when he was told he was suffering from leukaemia and was booked in for treatment.

Numerous football players, officials and fans across Bulgaria and Europe have shown their support for the respected 32-year-old Bulgarian international.

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