Czechs in turmoil as coach sacked

[MrsB]

BBC SPORT, 2009/04/08 13:59:16 GMT



The Czech Republic national side is in turmoil after coach Petr Rada was sacked and captain Tomas Ujfalusi quit.

Six players have also been banned, with West Ham's Radoslav Kovac and Reading's Marek Matejovsky among them.

A string of bad results prompted Rada's sacking, while a breach of discipline after last week's defeat by Slovakia led to the player bans.

The Czechs trail leaders Northern Ireland by five points in World Cup qualifying Group Three.

They lost 2-1 at home to neighbours Slovakia on 1 April after being held to a 0-0 draw in Slovenia on 28 March, seriously denting their chances of reaching the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

The Czech Republic have eight points from six matches, with a game in hand on leaders Northern Ireland.

Former Liverpool striker Milan Baros, Martin Fenin, Vaclav Sverkos and Ujfalusi were the other four players banned indefinitely, with captain Ujfalusi immediately announcing his retirement from international football.

The six players were criticised for visiting a restaurant following the defeat.

Another key Czech defender, Marek Jankulovski of AC Milan, said he is also considering retiring.

Rada last year replaced Karel Brueckner, who led them to the Euro 2004 semi-finals.

The Czechs next play in Slovakia on 5 September.

[MrsB]

Wow, what a mess!

[wiw]

Visiting a restaurant? Bit harsh init?

[SK]

Visiting a restaurant? Bit harsh init?

getting pissed drunk and celebrating, after a humiliating defeat

[wiw]

getting pissed drunk and celebrating, after a humiliating defeat

Ah

[MrsB]

Six Czech Republic stars indefinitely suspended following prostitute scandal

April 9th, 2009; The Spoiler

Like moths to a flame, Czech footballers once again show their working girl weakness.



The **** really seems to be hitting the fan in Czech football at the moment. National manager of only eight games Petr Rada was sacked yesterday, following a 2-1 defeat to neighbouring Slovakia that has put their World Cup Qualification plans into jeopardy.

“Because of the current environment in the Federation and the media, I don’t want to represent the country anymore,” said Rada, clearly not realising that he did not have a say in the matter.

Rada’s ungracious exit was not helped by the extracurricular activities of his players. Following the Slovakia defeat, six Czech players were photographed entering a restaurant by Czech tabloid Blesk. Shortly after, a taxi pulled up, containing three ladies of the night. The party were snapped leaving the restaurant at 6.30 the following morning.

The shamed footballers are Atletico Madrid defender Tomas Ujfalusi, West Ham’s Radoslav Kovac, Reading midfielder Marek Matejovsky, Martin Fenin (Eintracht Frankfurt), Vaclav Sverkos (Sochaux) and former Liverpool star Milan Baros. All six have been indefinitely suspended from the national team.

Fenin protested his innocence by claiming “The lady was an acquaintance,” in the Czech press, and Ujfalusi has announced his retirement from international football, citing the Czech Football Federation and the critical media.

The replacement coach may have the choice to reinstate the players for their next international match in June, but it looks likely that he will have to build an entirely new team.