Slavia Prague to ban fans for life over derby abandonment
Slavia Prague's chairman says the club will impose lifetime bans on fans who invaded the pitch when they were minutes from defeating city rivals Sparta and winning the league.
Czech First League Slavia Prague 3 - 2 Sparta Prague FT Slavia Prague are the reigning Czech First League champions [Getty Images] Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik says the club will impose lifetime bans on fans who invaded the pitch when they were minutes from defeating city rivals Sparta and winning the league. They were leading 3-2 in the seventh minute of stoppage time on Saturday when hundreds of home fans stormed the pitch at the Fortuna Arena. With the match abandoned, videos on social media showed players from both teams attempting to leave the pitch as supporters carrying lit flares ran towards the Sparta section and pyrotechnics were thrown into the stands.
Sparta goalkeeper Jakub Surovcik appeared to be hit in the face by a flare. The Czech Republic's League Football Association (LFA) has condemned the "absolutely unacceptable incident" and said its disciplinary committee will meet on Sunday. In a statement on social media on Sunday morning, Tvrdik apologised to "Sparta Praha, the visiting fans, the referees, the football public, and all decent Slavia supporters who left the stadium yesterday with broken hearts".
"The values of Slavia are not hatred and violence. We accept responsibility and draw consequences," he said. "What took place at the end of yesterday's derby at Fortuna Arena is the most difficult moment in the modern history of the club.
"This is not football. This is not Slavia. It is a disgrace that we all bear.