We approach the restart of the Gambrinus league, in the wake of scandals, and the infinite duel between Sparta Prague and Viktoria Plzeň and their presidents: Daniel Křetínský and Tomáš Paclík. All this ahead of two important European fixtures, with Chelsea and Napoli
As we await the Gambrinus league restart (on the 23rdFebruary), after the usual winter break which started in November, it is the duel between Viktoria Plzeň and Sparta Prague which is the main talk of the season. Viktoria finished the first half of the season at the top of the table with 34 points, followed by Jablonec with 32 and Sparta with 31.
A head to head battle between the garnet coloured team from the capital and their rivals from Plzeň, which does not only concern the tit for tat taking place on the pitch. What has ignited the tension, was the match fixing revelation, a phenomenon which by now is a stereotype of Italian football, but has proved to be a constant in most European leagues. The Czech republic seems to be no exception. But to return to the heated tension between Sparta and Viktoria, it is necessary to go back a few months.
On the 15th September last year, Viktoria hosted Sparta in Plzeň. The home side won 1-0 thanks to a penalty awarded due to a theatrical dive by David Limberský, an old acquaintance of Italian football, having worn the colours of Modena for a season in 1994. The climate was overheated to the extent that at half-time, Sparta even considered the possibility of not setting foot on the pitch for the second half. The much debated penalty caused a war to break out between the two clubs, whose relationship has been in ruins for months.
Following the scandal of the generously given Viktoria penalty, the Sparta president Daniel Křetínský headed to Strahov to speak to the president of the Czech football federation (FaCr), Miroslav Pelta. Křetínský claimed to possess “disconcerting information regarding how the Gambrinus league matches are refereed”. Despite the content of the discussion, being rigidly kept secret, underlining the seriousness of the situation, Pelta spoke of rather delicate matters, for which it was better to inform the anti-corruption unit of the Czech police. Shortly afterwards the head of the police unit made a statement to Czech radio, declaring that due to the absence of sufficient proof presented by Křetínský, they could only be considered as personal speculations.
Everything seemed to vanish, the castle constructed by the Sparta president appeared to crumble. Then the cold shower arrived for Viktoria. In early November the referee Tomáš Adámek sent a letter to the Czech football federation admitting that he received 200,000 crowns last season to favour Viktoria Plzeň, who were visiting Jablonec. The match, which was won 2-0 by the visitors, took place in March 2012. The money was apparently sent by Martin Svoboda, a person not officially linked to the club, but about which it is rumoured that he is somehow in contact with Viktoria Plzeň.
The final coup de théâtre would take place in late January, when the president of the Czech football federation (FaCr) decided to ask the sports judiciary to suspend investigations on the case, and place everything in the hands of the police. A step which led to the resignation of Jiří Golda, the figure in charge of the FaCr disciplinary commission. It was in fact Golda, who just a few days earlier had announced that further measures were to be taken against Křetínský, for being unable to provide concrete proof that Viktoria were guilty.
This is a report on the controversy casting a dark shadow over Czech football, intensifying the rivalry between Sparta and Viktoria.
It is clear however, that the circumstances have cast suspicion on the validity of Viktoria’s win against Jablonec last season, to which the corrupted referee provides a testimony, having been “bought” by the men of Plzeň.
It is therefore hard not to think that the Sparta president has all the right cards in his hands, after unleashing this pandemonium. Besides, Křetínský, despite just reaching the age of 37, is considered one of the most influential and rich men of the Czech republic, being also the co-owner of the EPH energy group, not to mention managing director of Slovak utility of SPP gas. What’s more is that when it comes to laws and rules he is certainly not a complete stranger. This is not only because he graduated in law himself, but also because he is the son of a judge of the Czech constitutional court (Michaela Židlická).
From his point of view, the Viktoria entourage, who have already hired lawyer Tomáš Sokol for their defence (the best criminal defence lawyer in the country), display tranquillity, claiming they have no connection with Martin Svoboda. The Viktoria owner, Tomáš Paclík an entrepreneur, even tried to resort to a counterattack, claiming that the Sparta president had repeatedly tried to discredit him in every way possible and had even attempted to contact their sponsors to convince them to stop financing Viktoria. “Kretinský has it in for me because he has never been able to win anything, despite his investments in the football world. Due to his large ego he might even be responsible for destroying the whole Gambrinus league”.
For the league leaders there has even been talk of relegation to the second division, even if as stated by the national press, it remains a rather remote hypothesis given that it concerns just one rigged game. However, should any further evidence come to light regarding rigged games, Plzeň would really run the risk and possibly a Europe league disqualification.
The entire Czech football environment however is at risk, due to the wave of unpopularity flowing from it. The sponsors are clearly unsatisfied and the situation is clearly causing them anxiety. Česká spořitelna have even annulled their contract as sponsor of the Czech national team and no longer wish to provide any type of support to Czech football. Let’s remember that the Czech national team are still on course to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and in the next few months will play against Prandelli’s Italy team, in the two decisive qualification matches.
Also Gambrinus (the Plzeňský Prazdroj group), the beer from which the Czech championship’s first division takes its name, do not seem particularly convinced. Their contract of sponsorship ends in 2014 and the first talks about an eventual renewal of the binomial Gambrinus League, have already begun with animosity between the two parties.
In this heated climate, which is intensified by controversy and indiscretion, we will shortly return to football on the pitch. The league is about to restart, as will the Europa league, in which we will shortly see the involvement of both Viktoria Plzeň and Sparta Prague, respectively against Napoli and Chelsea.
The current situation of the Czech footballing movement is rather paradoxical. On one hand, there are signs of a rise in the quality of national football, crowned by Sparta and Viktorias’ qualification to the round of 32 of the Europa League and a first half of the Gambrinus League which featured exciting matches and overall quality football. On the other hand, the news of the match fixing scandal breaking out, and the league leaders casting a shadow on the validity of the competition.
As you say in football jargon, we will wait for the verdict on the pitch. The Europa League could prove to be an important opportunity for Viktoria, but also for all of Czech football, in that it could ensure that results on the pitch put bribes and investigations into the background.
Sparta will face Chelsea the current Champions League holders, on the 14thand the 21stof February. On paper it may seem a daunting task. The dark reds will however play their own cards, after a positive first half of the season and a top signing made at the beginning of the year. The club indeed managed to sign David Lafata from Jablonec, who was last season’s Czech first division top scorer. The thirty year old attacker signed a contract for three and a half years.
“The signing of David is a clear signal that Sparta want to show strength and quality, not just in at a national level, but also in Europe”, stated Vítězslav Lavička, the Sparta coach. “We want to play with two strikers and adapt our style so that David best expresses his potential and quality”. Lafata is an important component to add to a mechanism, which has already been well assembled and a squad which features a good mix of experience and promising youth.
A demanding task also awaits Viktoria Plzeň, who will be involved in clash with Napoli in their round of 32 Europa League double fixture. Cavani and his team-mates have already displayed a attacking gameplay and a particularly aggressive approach to matches. The Czech league leaders will nevertheless attempt to cause an upset, which would mean a lot in terms of regained credibility after the scandals of the rigged games.
Concreteness and practicality: these are terms you could use to describe Viktoria. They play with a balanced 4-2-3-1 formation, relying a lot on the movement of the full-backs. In midfield the experience of the 37 year old Horvath and the class of the young Darida (born in 1990), guarantee fluid play and refined passing. Control of the ball in midfield will be decisive, since it is the only way to contain the long vertical passes and acceleration typical of the Neapolitans.
Let’s not forget the pitch factor since Viktoria have only lost once in 11 games this season at the Stadion města Plzně, the small but noisy Města Plzně.
Will Sparta and Viktoria manage to confirm the good moment in Czech football and overshadow the scandals which have stunned the environment in recent months? The restart to the Gambrinus League promises a lot, after the hard-fought and tense first half. Regarding the “Europa”, both will start off as underdogs but in football we all know the ball is round. If the 2006 Italian scandals could bring the Azzurri a World Cup, the Czech calciopoli could even have a surprise in store for the rest of Europe.
by Maurizio Marcellino