The leadership of the Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR) called an extraordinary meeting of the executive committee shortly after the story broke. After that, its chairman, David Trunda, confirmed the investigation at a press conference, saying that it is the result of three years of work and that the federation has cooperated in the process "for a long time."
The National Centre against Organised Crime (NCOZ) confirmed to the Czech news agency ČTK that it is carrying out criminal proceedings. According to ČTK, FAČR is currently investigating the matter and will issue a statement once it has established all the necessary information.
"Our department is carrying out criminal proceedings today. The submission of information is reserved for the High Public Prosecutor's Office in Olomouc," said NCOZ spokesman Jaroslav Ibehej.
According to iSport.cz, Europol and Interpol are also involved, and the raids were preceded by a three-year investigation. The website reported that the police action also involved first league and youth matches.
"Since 6:00 a.m., a giant crackdown has been underway, probably the biggest in the history of Czech football," it quoted from a text message sent out by FAČR chairman David Trunda to members of the executive committee.
"The Football Association is the initiator of this case. We have been cooperating with the police for a long time to uncover unfair practices," Trunda explained during his press conference.
According to him, 47 disciplinary proceedings have been initiated. Furthermore, the intervention does not concern anyone from the FAČR leadership. The association has been informing UEFA about its progress from the beginning.
"The focus is especially in Moravia, 99 per cent, which concerns dozens of people."
"This is the result of the cooperation between FAČR and the police of the Czech Republic. The Ethics Committee will today start proceedings with more than 40 players, officials, referees and clubs, including clubs of the highest competition down to the fourth league plus the youth leagues," Trunda wrote, according to iSport.cz.
The FAČR boss was due to attend the induction of former national team player Přemysl Bičovský into the Hall of Fame at 9:00, but excused himself.
Olomouc chief prosecutor Radim Dragoun said several dozen people were detained and searches were carried out at their homes and on other premises, according to the website of the High Public Prosecutor's Office.
The unpleasant affair for the entire Czech football movement comes just a day after the announcement of their Footballer of the Year (Pavel Sulc) and just two days before the men's national team begin the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.
The biggest corruption scandal to date to shake Czech football was back in 2004. Based on police wiretaps, a number of officials, referees, delegates and influential people from the football association were punished. The protagonist of the affair was former Zizkov manager Ivan Horník.
First division clubs involved in investigation
According to iSport.cz, the current police investigation is primarily focussed in Moravia, concerning first division and youth matches. The news source stated that one of the suspects is Jan Wolf, the mayor of Karviná, who owns the first league club, and the player Samuel Sigut, as well as a professional referee. A city spokeswoman said there was no intervention at City Hall. Wolf was not answering his phone for comment.
Representatives of clubs from the first league and lower competitions, which ČTK contacted in the regions today, had no information about the police raid due to betting this morning. This concerns first league clubs Olomouc, Ostrava, Zlin, Slovacko and Mlada Boleslav, as well as Prostejov, Kromeriz and the Brno clubs Artis and Zbrojovka, which play in the second division.
The football club FC Zlinsko in Otrokovice, which focuses on the development of youth players, has also appeared in the media in connection with the case. Both the club's chief operating officer, Rostislav Zálešák, and its managing director, Tomáš Macek, told ČTK that they had no information that police had intervened at the club.