Sport: financial debt serious for Czech football clubs

Football clubs in the Czech Republic are so cash-strapped that the country's top football league is sitting on a financial time bomb, according to press reports this week. The daily Sport has pointed the finger at all clubs in the top flight but in particular at 2009 league champions Slavia Prague. According to the daily, the club owes its players back pay amounting to 30 million crowns and owes 112 million to its former owner, the British investment company ENIC. The situation has become so serious, the daily said, that players at the capital club currently languishing in 14th place were looking to transfer elsewhere. Slavia midfielder Petr Trapp announced this week that he was quitting over unpaid wages, while Tunisian players Tijani Belaid and Hocine Ragued have also been given permission to negotiate with other clubs with a view to moving on.

In total, it is estimated that Czech clubs in the top league officially owe 48 million crowns in back pay to players, although Sport has suggested the figure could be even higher.

Author: Jan Velinger