Czech Republic football has been embroiled in a match-fixing scandal ahead of their World Cup playoff game against the Republic of Ireland.
Dozens of individuals have been arrested from the Czech First League, lower divisions and youth competitions in connection with betting and influencing results, according to iSport,
One of the suspects is Jan Wolf, the mayor of the city of Karvina, who owns the club that are eighth in the first division. Karviná league footballer Samuel Šigut is also involved, it is reported.
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The Czech football association said it was the initiator of the case and had been conducting an internal investigation and was co-operating with Uefa.
“There is absolutely no room for all these activities in sports and the Czech football environment,” Czech Republic FA chairman David Trunda said.
“From the beginning of our activities, we have wanted the FAČR to act transparently. I will do everything to ensure that the betting mafia disappears from the football environment.
“Unfortunately, we could not influence the timing, which is why we are here today.”
A Balkan betting group known as Gypsy has gained strength in recent years in the Czech Republic, according to Aktuálně.cz, trying to infiltrate clubs in lower leagues with financial problems
The Czech Republic sports minister Boris Šťastný has said he was “closely monitoring” the police crackdown. “Influencing competitions in connection with betting is the bane of sport,” he wrote.
Czech football is no stranger to scandal as the former head of the association Miroslav Pelta was charged with fraud and sentenced him to 5½ years in prison in 2024.
In a separate case, the vice-chairman Roman Berbr was convicted of embezzlement and received a three-year suspended sentence and an €82,000 fine.
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