A window into the past: Sparta lost 1:2 to Partizan Belgrade. In March 1966, they had a much more shocking match there

In the second game of the Conference League playoffs, Sparta Prague lost to Serbian Partizan Belgrade after a 0:1 home defeat, 1:2. In the quarter-final of the Champions Cup in March 1966, however, Sparta had a much more shocking experience with this opponent, which is still surrounded by mystery.

In 1964/1965 Sparta Prague became Czechoslovak champions again, and the Reds also had big ambitions in the Champions Cup, the most prestigious club competition on the continent at the time. It easily makes it through to the spring part, facing Serbian (then Yugoslavian) Partizan Belgrade in the quarter-finals.

After the opening game at Letná, everything seems clear. Sparta dominates, winning 4:1, three goals are scored by the leader Andrej Kvasnak, the last strike is delivered by the cannon player Václav Mašek. The rematch seems to be just a formality. Unless something unexpected happens..

It happened. Sparta loses 0:5, after a performance where the characters in red jerseys just crawl around the pitch. Nobody understands what happened to the fighting team of coach Vaclav Jezek.

“After the game, Andrej (Kvašňák) comes into the dressing room and says. Guys, now we have to, this is not possible,” recalls defender Josef Vojta. “And we tell him, it’s not halftime, it’s over! We’ve got a bust, we’re out!” the defender recounts the shocking experience.

What happened? Speculation is growing. The players weren’t themselves, they were giddy, without a spark. It is suspected that they have ingested some substance that has subdued them.

On their return, the blame is laid at the door of the opponents, for a socialist athlete would not do such a thing as to ingest a stimulant. It is claimed that their hosts put something in their drinks at the hotel.

The Serbian trail, however, leads nowhere. “I don’t know what we’re talking about. There was never any talk of such a thing in Belgrade,” prominent Serbian journalist Vladimir Novak dismisses the accusations.

Even addressing the club directly does not add a touch of sunshine to the case. Yet the secretariat is staffed by the younger brother of Mustafa Hasanagic, a Partizan star in his glory days who scored three goals (one at Letná, two in the return leg) in the double-header with Sparta. The answer was only wondering what the Czech side was asking.

It seems highly probable that the players had ingested some preparation mixed by Spartan’s doctor Bednar. He was supposedly putting the stimulant, which was supposed to increase performance, into the coffee. However, the opposite effect occurred – a depression. “I don’t drink coffee, I was one of the few who was completely fit,” Vojta indirectly confirms this assumption.

Another strong argument is that the doctor, who irresponsibly played with the players’ health and form, was dismissed by Sparta management immediately after the match.

The mystery, however, has remained unsolved for sixty-six years. And even a mutual duel in the Conference League did not shed more light on the case.

Source: UEFA, AC Sparta Prague