Karviná, Czech Republic – The mayor of Karviná, Jan Wolf, has develop into a central figure in a growing corruption scandal rocking Czech football and his whereabouts are currently unknown. Wolf has not been seen at the municipal office since Tuesday, prompting questions about his involvement in alleged match-fixing and bribery schemes. The situation has created a tense atmosphere at Karviná’s city hall, with the first deputy mayor, Lukáš Raszyk, now assuming Wolf’s responsibilities.
The unfolding drama centers around allegations of widespread corruption within Czech football, with police having reportedly detained 32 individuals in connection with the case. While it remains unconfirmed whether Wolf is among those detained, his absence from official duties has fueled speculation. The ethical committee of the Czech Football Association (FAČR) has launched an investigation, specifically focusing on Karviná, the only club from the top Czech league currently implicated in the scandal.
According to a statement released by the Karviná city council, the municipality itself is not currently a party to the ongoing legal proceedings and has not been contacted by either the Czech Police or the FAČR. “The city leadership is currently awaiting further developments and the official results of the investigation,” the statement read. Raszyk, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SOCDEM), is fulfilling Wolf’s duties in accordance with Czech law.
The investigation alleges that Karviná, through Chairman of the Board Jan Wolf or other individuals, offered bribes to referees Jan Všeteček and Miroslav Zelinka to influence the outcome of a First League match against České Budějovice in March 2024. Further allegations include a potential bribe of 100,000 Czech koruna and a promise of a transfer to Karviná for Samuel Šigut, then a player for České Budějovice, as well as a similar offer made to Filip Štěpánek in connection with Karviná’s relegation play-off matches against Vyškov in the spring of 2023.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the Karviná city council has stated that the day-to-day operations of the municipality are continuing without disruption. “Our priority is to continue according to plan. All ongoing investment and development projects are proceeding as scheduled, according to approved timelines. We have a strong team of experts who guarantee that the city’s development will not be halted,” said First Deputy Mayor Raszyk.
The city council also clarified that, contrary to some reports, the city of Karviná does not own the football club. “The name ‘Městský fotbalový klub’ (City Football Club) expresses regional identity, tradition, and support for youth sports, not the ownership structure of the city hall. The club is owned by a registered association in cooperation with private investors,” the council stated. According to publicly available information, the club is owned by a registered association, with city council member Petr Hort (SOCDEM) serving as chairman of the board.
Opposition Calls for Mayor’s Resignation
While the opposition has not yet called for an extraordinary session of the city council, Miroslav Hajdušík of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) indicated that such a move would likely coincide with the regularly scheduled meeting on April 27th, given legal requirements and timelines. “So, raising the alarm at this point seems pointless. However, if these allegations are confirmed, the mayor cannot remain in office. Anyone leading a city should be honorable and have a certain moral credibility. If that is compromised, any decent person would admit their mistake and hand it over to someone else,” Hajdušík stated.
Hajdušík believes the best course of action would be for Wolf to resign voluntarily. If he does not, the Communist Party will propose a vote of no confidence at the next council meeting. Hajdušík expressed surprise at the allegations, stating he had previously known Wolf as an honorable man. He also fears the scandal will negatively impact the city’s image.
The coalition government in Karviná is comprised of the Social Democratic Party and the ANO movement, holding a majority of 33 seats in the 41-member city council. Martin Gebauer (ANO), a Karviná council member and deputy governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region, believes the corruption allegations will not jeopardize the functioning of the coalition. “It’s very recent, and we only have the information available in the media. We will decide what to do once we have the opportunity to discuss it. Personally, I respect the presumption of innocence and believe it is too early to call for an extraordinary session. Given that this does not appear to be a political failure, but potentially another type of failure, it should not have any impact on local municipal politics regarding the content of the coalition agreement,” Gebauer said.
The investigation is ongoing, and the full extent of the alleged corruption remains to be seen. The FAČR’s ethical committee is expected to release further findings in the coming weeks. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Karviná city council is set for April 27th, where the issue is likely to be a central topic of discussion. The situation remains fluid, and Archysport will continue to provide updates as they become available.
