Slavia Prague pledge lifetime bans after rival player assaulted leading to 97th-minute abandonment

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invaded the pitch and forced its potential league-winning match to be abandoned, with a rival Sparta Prague player assaulted. Slavia supporters invaded the pitch when the club was minutes from securing the Czech league title with a victory against city rivals Sparta on Saturday, causing the match to be abandoned in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Slavia led the match 3-2, with play still ongoing, when hundreds of its fans breached security and stormed the pitch at the club’s Fortuna Arena. Many of those entering the playing area were carrying lit flares. Footage of the incident showed many of those on the pitch approach the away section, where Sparta fans were housed, with pyrotechnics launched at rival supporters in chaotic scenes. Dnešní derby pražských “S” bylo předčasně přerušeno kvůli vběhnutí fanoušků Slavie na hrací plochu.#OneplaySport | #ChanceLiga pic.twitter.com/qDG83maMcq — Oneplay Sport (@oneplaysportcz) May 9, 2026 Both sets of players can be seen attempting to sprint off the pitch as the fans entered with flares. On Sunday, Slavia said they had identified and banned for life a fan who assaulted Sparta goalkeeper Jakub Surovcik. Footage broadcast on Czech TV channel OnePlay Sport shows Surovcik having liquid thrown into his face by an individual who had entered the pitch. Writing on social media after the match, goalkeeper Surovcik said: “For someone to run up and threaten me to my face during the match, accompanied by an assault, is absolutely unacceptable, and I will be pursuing this through legal channels.” On Sunday, Slavia chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik said the scenes were “a disgrace that we all bear” and said the club would seek to identify and issue lifetime bans for those who had entered the pitch. Tvrdik apologised to Sparta as a club and a fanbase, while noting how Sparta’s players Surovcik, Jakub Martinc, and Matyas Vojta had all been caught up in the incidents on the pitch. “We all left the stadium with broken hearts,” Tvrdik said. Představenstvo SK Slavia Praha udělilo doživotní zákaz vstupu do Fortuna Areny návštěvníkovi, který během derby neoprávněně vstoupil na hrací plochu a napadl Jakuba Surovčíka. Dotyčný byl identifikován na základě kamerových záznamů a spolupráce… pic.twitter.com/gaqWyVkHed — SK Slavia Praha (@slaviaofficial) May 10, 2026 He also confirmed that the north stand of the Fortuna Arena, from where the fans had onto the pitch, would be closed indefinitely until the perpetrators “have been identified and brought before the criminal justice authorities”. “Even if that means closing the North Stand for the entire 2026-2027 season,” said Tvrdik. “We will not negotiate on the safety of players and respect for the opponent.” Slavia said they supported the decision to abandon the match. Separatly, Tvrdik added that Slavia players Tomas Chory and David Doudera, who were both shown red cards during the match, would “never play for the club again”. “Both players were removed from the squad until the end of the season. Both received approval to transfer in the summer. Neither of them will play for Slavia again.” On Sunday, Sparta posted a statement to say they did not believe the episode was an “isolated incident” “We believe this was a culmination of an atmosphere of hatred towards our club that has been built up over the long term and on multiple levels. Fans, players, and members of the production team must not fear for their safety, health, and lives at the stadium. “Sparta Prague is providing and will continue to provide maximum cooperation to all relevant authorities in investigating Saturday’s incidents.” — AC Sparta Praha (@ACSparta_CZ) May 9, 2026 The Czech Republic’s League Football Association (LFA) said the incident was “completely unacceptable” and “absolutely incompatible with the values ​​and principles of professional football.” In a statement, the LFA said: “Physical attacks on players, members of the implementation teams or other actors of the match represent crossing the line. “Such behavior will not be tolerated by the LFA under any circumstances. Professional football must remain a safe environment for all participants in the match and stadium visitors. “The LFA is ready to provide the police of the Czech Republic with maximum cooperation in identifying the persons who participated in the attack on the players and supports the consistent imposition of responsibility against all perpetrators.” Going into Saturday’s Prague derby, Slavia were eight points clear of Sparta with four rounds of matches remaining. A victory would have given the club an unassailable 11-point lead. In a club statement, Slavia chairman Tvrdik said the club “does not want to speculate, but probably expects” that the game will not be replayed, with Sparta awarded a victory due to the actions of his club’s fans. “The decision currently belongs to the LFA disciplinary committee. The match was disrupted through our fault, the reasons for the interruption of the match were caused by our fans. “It can be expected that the match will be canceled to our detriment. Our situation in the fight for the title has become extremely complicated.” If Sparta are awarded the victory, the gap between the two sides at the top of the standings would be cut to five points with three rounds of games remaining. Slavia return to action on Wednesday, at home to Jablonec, one day after Sparta host Viktoria Plzen. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms