Rouchal and Hitler tattoos? Juráček also has an interesting past, who after winning, greeted a friend who was in jail for assaulting an activist

Prejudice is quite common. A lot of prejudice is also faced by people who are involved in combat sports. Unfortunately, not everyone helps to break down prejudices by their behaviour, their past or their environment.

We all know the prejudice. Wrestlers are just whack-jobs, extremists, certainly not something that should be encouraged. However, you can’t lump everyone together. Besides, the problem with extremism is much more sophisticated. Matúš Juráček is a case in point.

Today one of the stars of the Octagon makes no secret of his past. Juráček is a big football fan, he has always been a fan of Prague Slavia, he was even a member of the hooligans, which he does not hide.

Apparently, it should be the past. Today Juráček seems to be a positive and likeable person, many people like him and support him. However, he may not know all the circumstances. But the Czech fighter revived those in his own way at OKTAGON 30, where he defeated Robert Pukac.

We won’t go into the fight itself. What Juracek said into the microphone after the fight is much more important for the series. Specifically this sentence

To the uninitiated, of course, there is nothing strange about this sentence. It sounds worse if you find out who Daniel Vokál is. This is the man who was one of the three Czech football hooligans accused of assaulting a Thai activist in France.

In addition to Vokál, the trio of accused include Jakub Hošek, brother of David Hošek, until recently an Oktagon wrestler. Moreover, David Hošek himself belonged to the hooligans of Sparta, and was not even allowed to enter the stadium. His brother Jakub was also a Sparta hooligan.

However, David Hošek distances himself from the actions of his brother and Daniel Vokál.

The attacked Thai activist had a clear theory as to why the Czechs attacked her. A Thai king living in Bavaria had linked up with Czech criminal groups to at least intimidate anti-regime activists.

According to French investigators, Hošek admitted to receiving 50,000 crowns for the assault. Both Vokál and Hošek were caught in France and sentenced to 26 months in prison.

It is worth noting that similar attacks on Thai activists have occurred all over the world. There is also no need to be under any sunny illusions about the political attitudes of football hooligans.

Juráček himself may not be a problem now, but it is probably not so easy to say that about his surroundings.

A scratch from the past

As already mentioned, Matúš Juráček’s current life is very likely trouble-free. However, his past is already worth mentioning. One event in particular. In 2014, he took part in the White Rex tournament in Rome.

Doesn’t that ring a bell? The White Rex organization has been sponsoring combat sports tournaments, especially MMA, organized by people from far-right backgrounds since its inception. Since 2011, it has been organising its own tournaments under the name Spirit of War, which are not only for neo-Nazis, but primarily for them.

Wotan Jugend, a Russian neo-Nazi group, regularly sends teams to White Rex tournaments. It is worth noting that the tournaments do not shy away from neo-Nazi propaganda.

Activist Maxim Martsinkevich, who served three and a half years for inciting racial hatred and ethnic violence, spoke at the December 2012 event. He has been featured as a guest of honour at other tournaments.

Juráček’s participation in the tournament is also mentioned by Antifa’s Czech website in its text about White Rex. There is also a photo of Juráček in a truly “elite company”. One of the people in the photo is Slovak Milan Panáč, who had a tattoo of a cursing hand, the motto of the Waffen SS or a Wehrmacht soldier.

Sources: ČT24, iRozhlas, Antifa, The Guardian