The FAČR has commented on the intervention of the riot police in the MOL Cup final: it was a very risky match, the association defends itself

The MOL Cup final between Slovácko and Sparta Prague was marred by the arrival of riot police with police dogs at the edge of the pitch. This act was not well received by the football public and on Thursday the FAČR commented on the situation.

The riot police with dogs disrupted the MOL Cup final

On Wednesday evening, the final of the domestic cup between Slovácko and Sparta Prague took place in Uherské Hradiště. After an excellent team performance, the home team defeated the Prague favourite 3:1 and celebrated the MOL Cup title.

However, the match had an unpleasant touch not only for the home fans in the form of the intervention of riot police who surrounded the playing field during the match. Moreover, the policemen had dogs with them, whose barking made the football experience unpleasant even for the peaceful spectators.

The police intervention was not received with enthusiasm by the football community at large and the nature of the intervention was much discussed not only in the media. The police defended themselves by saying that they had been asked to intervene by the match organiser.

The FAČR commented on the unpleasant situation in a statement

The Football Association of the Czech Republic has now also commented on the situation and issued a statement. ” For several reasons, this was a very risky match for which a number of measures were taken, including an increased number of police officers ready outside the stadium for possible intervention,” the statement on the FAČR website said.

“The intervention of the Police of the Czech Republic was requested on behalf of the organisers by the FAČR security manager, who is the highest authority of the association at the match from that point of view, his competences cannot be interfered with and he cooperates closely with the match delegate and the commander of the measures,” the FAČR explained.

According to the FAČR, the decision was made on the basis of an evaluation of knowledge and information from several sources, according to which Sparta fans threatened to invade the pitch in order to interrupt or prematurely end the match. “The police then acted on the basis of their internal procedures, which are within their competence,” the FAČR responded to the nature of the police officers’ action.

“From the FAČR’s point of view, there were two options – either to risk a possible early termination of the match, or to take preventive action to prevent the fans from invading the pitch,” the association added.

In recent weeks, we have seen in various stadiums how fans invade the stadium after the final whistle and celebrate with the players to win the title. In Trabzonspor it went well, but in Schalke, for example, they were probably not too excited.

Such celebrations by fans celebrating a historic achievement were not allowed to the home fans. The question certainly remains where the line is between the safety of those involved and allowing a football fan to fully enjoy the success of their team.

Source