The Ethics Committee of the Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR) has handed down a series of sanctions in a betting-related match-fixing case, imposing lengthy bans and financial penalties on players, an individual official and football club MFK Karviná.
MFK Karviná was sanctioned for manipulating the outcomes of three matches. As a result, the club was expelled from the Czech First League, fined CZK 10m, and allowed to compete in the Second League.
According to the Ethics Committee, the offences were linked to matches affecting the club's fight to remain in the top division, which contributed to the severity of the sanction.
Furthermore, Karviná mayor and MFK representative Jan Wolf received a 12-year ban from all football-related activities for his role in influencing the outcomes of the three matches. He was additionally fined CZK 3m.
Five players were found guilty of accepting bribes, or promises of bribes, to influence matches for betting purposes.
The most severe sanction was handed to Jiří Remiáš of FC Hlučín, who received a 12-year ban from all FAČR-related activities and a fine of CZK 140,000. He was found to have accepted bribes in four separate cases. Remiáš was also found to have acted as an intermediary, offering bribes to other players in three additional incidents.
The Committee also stated that the decision is not final, and any disciplinary sanctions will be enforceable only once the ruling becomes legally binding.
The scandal erupted earlier this year, following a three-year investigation. Previously, police charged 32 individuals in a corruption case. Some suspects are alleged to be connected to an organised crime group. Criminal proceedings are underway.
Czech criminal law does not recognise match-fixing as a standalone offence, but manipulating sports competitions can be prosecuted under various general criminal offences such as fraud or bribery
