PRAGUE-(MaraviPost)-Slavia Prague is bracing for severe punishment after its fans invaded the pitch during stoppage time in a heated derby match against Sparta Prague in the Czech league.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, has sparked outrage and condemnation from football authorities.
The disciplinary committee of the League Football Association, which oversees professional soccer in the Czech Republic, has vowed to take a tough stance on the behavior of Slavia’s fans.
“Such behavior will not be tolerated in professional football,” the committee stated after an extraordinary meeting.
Slavia’s punishment could be announced on Tuesday and may include forfeiting the match, banning fans from the stadium, and a hefty fine.
The club’s chairman, Jaroslav Tvrdík, has apologized for the incident and announced that the North Stand, where the troublemaking fans were seated, will be closed indefinitely.
The match was abandoned in the 97th minute, with Slavia leading 3-2, after hundreds of fans stormed the pitch and attacked Sparta players, including goalkeeper Jakub Surovcik.
The incident has been widely condemned, with Sparta vice-chairman Frantisek Cupr calling it a “disgrace”.
The Czech Football Association has also opened proceedings against Slavia, and the club may face further sanctions.
The incident has raised concerns about fan violence and safety in Czech football.