PRAGUE (AP) — Slavia Prague was given a forfeit in a forfeited game against arch-rivals Sparta Prague as punishment for fans storming the pitch in stoppage time of a heated Czech League derby last weekend.
The Spartans won 3-0 due to the disciplinary action issued on Tuesday. Slavia were leading 3-2 on Saturday, but hundreds of fans poured onto the pitch seven minutes into stoppage time. Many of the supporters brandished smoke bombs, and some attacked Spartan players, including Slovakia goalkeeper Jakub Slovczyk, defender Jakub Martinec and forward Matiáš Vojta.
A total of 10 minutes of stoppage time was scheduled, but the match was not restarted and was abandoned.
Slavia were ordered to play their next four home games behind closed doors and fined 10 million crowns ($484,000).
Slavia said she would not appeal. They remain in first place with a five-point lead over the Spartans with three games remaining.
Slavia have apologized and said the club will cooperate with police who are investigating the incident as hooliganism, which could result in a prison sentence.
Czech Football Association president David Trunda said the incident had damaged “Czech football, the clubs and the vast majority of decent fans”.
Mr Trunda continues to hold talks with the government to improve security at Czech stadiums.
Slavia CEO Jaroslav Tvrdik said the club would introduce a facial recognition system at the stadium.
Tvrdik announced on Sunday that Slavia would close the North Stand, which houses their loyal fans, with immediate effect. The stand will be closed until all perpetrators are identified and brought to justice.
The club announced that the perpetrator would be permanently banned from the Slavia stadium.
Tvrdik said the two Slavia players who were shown red cards during the derby, league top scorer Tomáš Chori and defender David Dudeira, have been suspended for the remainder of the season. The club has placed the pair on its transfer list.
Both players were included on Tuesday in the 54-man reserve squad for the next Czech national team. world cup. For the first time in 20 years, the Czech Republic has qualified for the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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