Former Slovak Football Association executive Peter Sepeši has launched sharp criticism against longtime president Ján Kováčik, alleging the establishment of a personal cult within the country’s governing body and demanding an independent, deep-dive audit of its operations following a massive mobile phone debt controversy.
Sepeši, who spent fifteen years working within the leadership of the Slovenský futbalový zväz (SFZ) and served as an executive committee member for legislative and legal affairs, lost his post during the organization’s February elective conference. In an interview with Denník N, Sepeši stated that Kováčik has cultivated an environment where a significant portion of conference delegates and members offer uncritical loyalty in exchange for minor perks, prestige, and presidential attention.
The Mobil-Phone Guarantee Scandal and State Funding Halt
The rift within the federation deepened significantly ahead of the February presidential elections—won again by Ján Kováčik—following the emergence of a high-stakes controversy involving mobile devices. Creditors and supply firms are currently demanding approximately 17 million euros from the SFZ for the delivery of 17,000 luxury iPhone devices that were allegedly ordered by a private company, Best Press. Documents bearing Ján Kováčik’s signature connect the SFZ to the transaction as a guarantor.
The football association has consistently rejected the claims, categorizing the deal as fraud and insisting it never ordered or took delivery of any iPhones. Despite the federation’s denial, the fallout has severely impacted its financial standing. The Ministry of Tourism and Sport halted financing to the SFZ over the dispute, withholding a regular state contribution of more than 4 million euros for recognized sports in July.
Sepeši described how the internal document review unfolded as executive committee members sought answers. “As a member of the executive committee responsible for legislative and legal questions, at the beginning of February 2026, together with other executive committee members, I requested documents concerning this matter,” Sepeši said in the interview with Denník N. “At first, we only received a verbal explanation from the president as to why he signed such contracts, then we received the first part of incomplete documents, and subsequently, based on a further request, additional documents. Each time we had to ask for completion. This procedure seemed suspicious to me.”
After analyzing the financial guarantee papers, Sepeši concluded that the president should never have signed the contracts, leading him to completely lose trust in the leadership.
Emergence of the Futbalové Fórum Alternative
Following his departure from the executive committee, Sepeši joined forces with other critics to establish the Futbalové fórum (Football Forum) project, presented as an alternative voice to the current SFZ management. The initiative has garnered support from dozens of figures within the domestic football movement, including prominent names such as MŠK Žilina boss Jozef Antošík, AS Trenčín general manager Róbert Rybníček, and former referee Pavol Chmura.
However, Sepeši noted that many other potential supporters remain unnamed due to fears of professional retaliation within the sport. He cited recent instances where referees and delegates who engaged with the Football Forum’s social media content—such as liking posts—were subsequently omitted from match assignments. Experienced referee observers, whose specialized roles are vital for maintaining officiating standards, were allegedly removed from top-tier match lists as a warning to others. Conversely, Sepeši claimed that delegates who openly back the president continue to receive regular match appointments and supplementary financial compensation.
Perks, Travel, and Internal Discontent
Beyond the legal and financial entanglements, Sepeši criticized the internal culture surrounding travel and delegation privileges at the SFZ. He alleged that internal controllers, officials, conference delegates, and decision-makers regularly join the national team or SFZ leadership on international trips, frequently accompanied by family members and acquaintances, all funded by the association.
“Not only the association’s controller and various officials, conference delegates, and people who decide on things regularly fly with the national team or the SFZ leadership on foreign trips. Together with them, sometimes even their family members and acquaintances. Everything is paid for by the SFZ, and they go on a trip. Obviously, that’s enough for them and they are then indebted to the SFZ president,” Sepeši stated.
While acknowledging that the SFZ operated responsibly for a long period following Kováčik’s initial appointment in 2010, Sepeši admitted that institutional transparency deteriorated over time, prompting his current push for comprehensive structural reform and an independent audit.
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