Following suggestions that Lokomotiv Plovdiv's 27-year-old Dutch forward Joël Zwarts could transfer to city rival Botev, the player commented on the situation on his personal Instagram profile. His post was a reaction to a threatening message sent by a supporter of 'the black and whites', which he shared with his followers. The supporter warned that he would face severe negative consequences if he went to Botev. In response, Zwarts stated that people were already making threats while he was on vacation and not involved with such matters, accompanying his comment with three laughing emojis. Zwarts, who joined the club in February 2026, scored 8 goals and provided 3 assists in 15 domestic league appearances in the 2025/2026 season. His contract runs until June 2027 and his current Transfermarkt valuation is €500k.