Just before Christmas, representatives of the third league clubs met at the stadium in Rač. The reason was the lack of funds from the general partner, Tipos.
In the 2024/25 season, the Tipos National Betting Company became a partner of the third league, and signed a cooperation agreement with the Slovak Football Association for the following year as well. However, because of the dispute between these two institutions, TIPOS III clubs. leagues did not even receive a euro this year.
Dispute between SFZ and Tipos
According to the agreement, the participants of the third highest competition (a total of 44 clubs) were to receive ten thousand euros for the autumn part of this year.
“Despite our efforts, the company Tipos has so far not paid 44 clubs money for advertising, which puts several clubs in an unflattering situation. The reason is the dispute between Tipos and SFZ, where the signed contract for two seasons with the option for another is still valid. After new management came to Tipos, they cannot agree with SFZ on the accounting of project expenses for the last season, which are listed in the still valid contract,” Tomáš Cehlar, president of FK Spišská Nová Ves, said at the meeting for the third league clubs.
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In the budgets of Nike League teams, this would be a negligible amount. However, it is a high amount for amateur clubs from the third highest competition, without which their future is at risk.
The representatives of the third highest competition pointed out that they fulfill their advertising obligations (Tipos company logos are displayed in stadiums, on jerseys, live broadcasts and recordings are broadcast by Tipos TV), but they did not receive the money for advertising.
“We, the clubs, tried to actively enter into this dispute. At two meetings in Tipos with the general director and one joint meeting at SFZ with Tipos, we tried to explain to both parties the importance of paying the contracted funds, as the clubs counted on them in their financial plans and count on them. Several clubs will now have to take out loans, or will be debtors to players and coaches.” he added.
VIDEO: Tomáš Cehlár on the problem of third league players
Čurný: An unpleasant situation
The meeting of the third league clubs caused a stir shortly before Christmas. The representatives of SFZ and Tipos met so quickly and, according to the union, an agreement should have been reached.
“It is an unpleasant situation, but the good news is that there is a mutual effort to comply with the contract, which is valid. And above all, to resolve the issue of the clubs themselves, that is, as part of this agreement, the clubs will receive ten thousand euros twice. With the fact that the ten thousand should come as soon as possible and all other disputed matters will be resolved by SFZ and Tipos outside the clubs. So they will not be involved in possible misunderstandings or conflicts.” said Juraj Čurný, the spokesperson of SFZ, even before Christmas.
SFZ receives one million euros from Tipos for the third league season. According to the spokesperson, 90 percent of the amount goes to the club and 10 percent remains with the union. “We are not aware that any wrongdoings have been proven to us. That the contract is not fulfilled by SFZ. But we will solve it mutually. The most important thing is that an agreement has been reached that will solve the issue of the clubs themselves.” added Čurný, saying that SFZ and Tipos will solve the problem so that economic fulfillment can occur.
VIDEO: Juraj Čurný on the dispute between SFZ and Tipos
They saw the light at the end of the tunnel
At the pre-Christmas meeting, it was discussed that the clubs should receive the first part of the money by the end of the year. However, the representatives of the third highest competition are still waiting for the funds.
“Before the holidays, third league clubs, we had a press conference where we presented the problem we have, which is the non-payment of money from the main sponsor. After the press conference, the ice moved, both sides of the dispute started to communicate with each other again. We saw the light at the end of the tunnel, when both sides showed interest in cooperation and solving the problem. Yes, there were holidays, people had vacations, they rested, but it is the new year and we are still waiting, we are still in the uncertainty of what will happen,” Tomáš Cehlár, president of FK Spišská Nová Ves, spoke to ŠPORT.sk this morning.
In the clubs of the Nike League, it would be a negligible amount. However, for the participants of the third highest competition, this is a significant amount in the budget. “We are hearing how Tipos is doing and of course we all congratulate them. But at the same time, we believe that they will therefore fulfill their obligations to the clubs in the third division. All clubs hope that Tipos will continue to be a proud partner of the third division, our football family.” he added.
Representatives of the third highest competition (44 clubs) believe that the money will be delivered to the clubs’ accounts in the coming days. “The light at the end of the tunnel for us is SFZ’s claim that the general partner agrees with what they offered to Tipos. The problem is being solved by lawyers, so we believe that it won’t take long. In a few days, all clubs start winter training and in March the spring part begins, when we should receive the second part of the funds. I guess it will happen.” Cehlar hopes.
Halabrin: I don’t believe the money will come
The amount of ten thousand euros in the clubs of the third league will cover the salaries of the players for a month. In smaller teams, they will also cover a longer period. “We are sorry. We welcomed that a company like Tipos became a partner of the third league. We saw in it the possibility of stable income and stability. Due to the SFZ marketing dispute with Tipos, where Tipos was not willing to accept all the project costs, we did not receive anything.” before Christmas, the president of Spartak Myjava, Pavel Halabrín, was shaking his head.
The long-time official claims that the clubs of the third league did not make any mistakes and fulfilled their obligations honestly. “I see the problem on the side of the SFZ, the union did not account for the finances as it should have. The money it drew from the package for marketing and project costs was not accounted for in such a way that Tipos was willing to continue.” he added.
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The general partner of the third league has been Tipos since last season. Thanks to this cooperation, each participant of the third highest competition should receive ten thousand euros for half of the season. Due to disagreements between Tipos and SFZ, however, this has not yet happened.
The contract with Tipos was signed by the Slovak Football Association. He sends most of the money from it to the club. “The fact that the third league has a partner is the merit of SFZ. The fact that hundreds of thousands of euros came into football is the merit of SFZ. We admit that we suffer just like you. However, it is not our goal to withhold funds and not give you the money that is due to you under the contract,” explained SFZ spokesman Juraj Čurný.
The third league clubs found themselves unfairly between the mills due to the dispute between SFZ and Tipos. They themselves pay extra for what they cannot pay for. Some officials believe that they will get the money, but others are slowly losing hope.
“We’ve heard a lot since July, but, unfortunately, we’re getting the short end of the stick. If we don’t pay one collection invoice to SFZ, they cancel the match the day after the deadline. We’re five months past the deadline and nothing is happening. I would be very happy if SFZ kept its word, but I don’t believe it. I don’t believe the money will come.” concluded the president of Spartak Myjava, Pavel Halabrin.
VIDEO: Pavel Halabrín does not believe that the money will come
