It is therefore clear that the reasons described as “serious” were not specified at the press conference, not because of the ongoing review, but apparently because the publication of the content of the submitted documents would allow the public to draw a clear conclusion about the absence of reasons for the temporary suspension of funding. We consider the labeling of the alleged deficiencies as “serious” to be unjustified and we perceive it as a step towards a single goal – to influence the upcoming election conference of the SFZ.
At the same time, all inspections completed so far by MCRaŠ for the years 2023 and 2024 ended with the result that SFZ was obliged to return a total of EUR 8,221.71 from the total amount provided from the state budget for two years in the amount of EUR 29,953,012, which represents 0.0274%. The results of the control of the use of public funds in the amount of EUR 2,399,985 related to the construction of the stadium in Prešov also arrived today with a result of EUR 0 to be returned.
Thus, the words of R. Huliak from the fall of 2025 that “he has evidence on his table that already allows him to withdraw the accreditation of SFZ” have not been confirmed in any way. Therefore, we consider the opening of the next inspection at the beginning of 2026 to be just an attempt to cover up this fact and “at any cost” to find a reason and a way to continue interfering with the autonomy of the SFZ.
The subject of the control activity of the chief controller of sport no. 2026/1 does not in any way concern public funds, but funds that SFZ received from UEFA in a manner regulated by SFZ regulations and which was approved by its resolution (beyond the requirements of its regulations) by the SFZ Executive Committee at its meeting on June 2, 2025, about which the public was informed in the standard way (communique, minutes).
The fact that the chief controller of sports began to officially deal with the mentioned matter more than seven months later and in the period just before the election conference of the SFZ gives the impression of its contrivance and expediency.
In addition, the position of chief controller of sports is held by a person who is a high-ranking official of the same political entity as the minister, which raises reasonable doubts about his impartiality and political neutrality of the performance of control activities. In its official response, SFZ raised an objection of bias against the chief controller of sports and drew attention to his obvious conflict of interests. Despite this, to date the chief controller of sport and the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic have not dealt with this objection substantively, and no formal opinion or decision has been issued that would clearly and reviewably address the issue of the impartiality of the performance of control activities and the circumstances of the alleged conflict of interests. SFZ therefore considers the procedure of the control authorities in this part to be unacceptable and another element that strengthens the doubts about the expediency and political motivation of the whole thing.
Permanent and escalating efforts by Minister Huliak to interfere with the autonomy of the SFZ and influence the elections to its highest functions and bodies have reached such a scale that the current situation in Slovakia is already closely monitored by UEFA and FIFA. In a joint letter, they emphatically reject direct and indirect interference by “third parties” in the electoral process as well as in the internal functioning and management of the SFZ, as this is in fundamental contradiction to the relevant provisions of the FIFA and UEFA regulations.
MCRaŠ suspended the financing of the national sports association, while the control activity was not completed. SFZ did not receive a report on the control activity, did not get a chance to comment on any identified deficiencies or a chance to fulfill corrective measures and comment on deadlines. Never until now has the ministry, under which sport competently fell, suspended the funding of the national sports association before the legal termination of the control activity of the chief controller of sport. It is a very dangerous precedent for the entire sports community.
SFZ will oppose Minister Huliak’s decision with all available means.
