Czech football association hands Slavia Prague forfeit loss after pitch invasion
Slavia Prague awarded a 3-0 defeat to archrival Sparta after supporters stormed the pitch during stoppage time; club ordered to play next four home games behind closed doors
The Czech football association has issued a severe disciplinary ruling against Slavia Prague, awarding their archrival Sparta Prague a forfeit loss and a 3-0 victory following a mass pitch invasion. The match, a heated league derby, was abandoned after hundreds of Slavia supporters stormed the field during the seventh minute of added time while the home side led 3-2.
The incident escalated quickly as the invading fans brandished flares and physically attacked several Sparta players, including Slovak goalkeeper Jakub Surovčík, defender Jakub Martinec, and forward Matyáš Vojta. Although ten minutes of added time were scheduled, the game could not be resumed, prompting the governing body to declare the result a forfeit. Slavia chief executive Jaroslav Tvrdík confirmed the club would not appeal the decision and has pledged full cooperation with police investigating the incident as hooliganism.
As part of the punishment, Slavia has been fined 10 million koruna and ordered to play its next four home matches without spectators. The club's North Stand, a venue for die-hard supporters, has been closed immediately until all perpetrators are identified and brought to justice. Those responsible for the invasion will face a lifetime ban from the stadium, a measure the club stated would remain in place until justice is served.
The fallout extends to the club's on-field personnel, with two players receiving red cards during the match suspended for the remainder of the season. League leading scorer Tomáš Chorý and defender David Douděra have been transfer-listed following the suspensions. Both athletes were included in the Czech Republic's preliminary 54-man national team roster for the upcoming World Cup, a tournament the nation has qualified for for the first time in 20 years.
In response to the breach of security, Slavia has announced plans to install a facial recognition system at the stadium to prevent future incidents. Czech soccer association head David Trunda described the event as damaging to Czech football and the clubs, noting that he is currently engaged in talks with the government to improve security measures across the country's stadiums.
While Slavia remains atop the league standings, five points ahead of Sparta with three games remaining, the association's ruling underscores the gravity of the incident. The club has issued an apology and confirmed it will assist authorities in identifying the individuals involved, who now face potential jail terms for their actions.
