The mayor of Karvina and MFK representative Jan Wolf was banned from football for 12 years for influencing three matches and received a fine of three million crowns. The Ethics Committee announced this in a statement on its website, adding that the decision is not yet final.
In addition to the club and Wolf, the committee today also banned five other members from football for periods ranging from 15 months to 12 years and imposed fines from 20,000 to 140,000 crowns: players Nicolas Tilkeridis, Daniel Kubat, Jakub Tlusty, Lumir Ciz, and Jiri Remias.
In May, Karvina won the Czech MOL Cup and secured a spot in European competitions, but due to the punishment, UEFA will most likely not allow the club to participate in its tournaments.
In that case, there are two possible solutions. The second qualifying rounds of the European Cups will be drawn on Wednesday. Either UEFA will adjust the seeding of Czech clubs before the draw, or Czech football will lose one spot.
Because the decision was made before the draw, it is more likely that the Czech representatives will move up. Plzen would take Karvina's place in the final qualifying round of the Europa League, Hradec Kralove would take Plzen's spot in the second qualifying round of the same competition, and Jablonec, who finished fifth in the league, would move into Hradec Kralove's place in the second qualifying round of the Conference League.
"We are counting on starting in the second qualifying round. But to be honest, it would be a huge relief and advantage for us to go straight to the fourth qualifying round, that's just how it is. There's nothing illogical about that. But we're focusing on starting our cup journey in the second qualifying round," said Plzen coach Martin Hysky today at the start of pre-season training.
Impact on Czech league
The case will also affect the Czech league and could help Dukla Prague, who were relegated. If Karvina and Wolf do not appeal the Ethics Committee's verdict, which they have five days to do, the decision will stand. And since the season will only be officially closed a week later on June 22nd, Dukla would be saved.
However, if Karvina appeal and the verdict is confirmed later, next season's top league will be played with 15 teams.
Today's verdict by the Ethics Committee relates to a corruption scandal in Czech football, in which 32 people were charged at the end of March. The Ethics Committee launched 47 disciplinary proceedings in the first wave in March, with more following in May.