MFK Karvina, which won the Czech Cup only weeks ago, has been expelled from the Czech first division and fined 10 million korunas, about 413,000 euros, after the FAČR ethics committee found it was involved in match fixing. The club says it will appeal, and the ruling is not yet final. The case has also cost Karvina's mayor and club representative, Jan Wolf, a 12-year ban from football-related activity and a separate fine of 3 million korunas.
The committee said Karvina was involved in fixing three matches from the 2023/24 relegation battle, a league game against Ceske Budejovice in March 2024 and two playoff matches against Vyskov in May and June. Investigators said, through Wolf, bribes were offered to two referees and two players to influence the games and their results. One charge included an offer of 100,000 korunas plus a promise to help with a future transfer.
Alongside Wolf, several players and football figures were punished with bans ranging from 15 months to 12 years and additional fines, including Nicolas Tilkridis, Daniel Kovat, Jakub Telosti, Lumik Ciz and Jiri Remias. The committee applied the harshest sporting sanction because the offenses directly affected the relegation fight.
The scandal is part of a much wider corruption probe in Czech football. In March, the association said 47 people and entities were facing disciplinary proceedings, and after police raids across several regions, 32 people were charged. Authorities and football officials expect more developments.
The timing could create a rare administrative mess. League registration for 2025/26 is due to close on June 22, and Karvina is still officially listed in the top division and could be drawn into next season's schedule. If the appeal is not resolved in time, the first division could end up with only 15 teams in 2026/27. The case could also affect Europe, where Karvina's Czech Cup win had earned it a Europa League playoff place, possibly passed on to Viktoria Plzen, Hradec Kralove and Jablonec.
