Slavia Prague attacking midfielder Pavel Kačor faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder during a qualifying fixture against Bulgaria, leaving his club and national team without him for upcoming crucial fixtures.
Injury Details and Hospital Treatment Confirmed
The incident occurred in the closing moments of the match when teammate Tadeáš Vachoušek launched a quick counterattack from deep in defense, sending Kačor clear on a breakaway. Todor Pavlov clipped Kačor’s heels from behind to thwart the scoring opportunity, resulting in a red card for Pavlov and leaving Bulgaria to finish the match with ten men.
Kačor immediately collapsed to the turf, clutching his arm and shoulder in obvious distress. He was rushed directly to the University Hospital in Hradec Králové.
Coach Bílek addressed reporters following the final whistle, stating that the initial outlook was bleak. Team spokesperson Aleš Strouha later provided a detailed update from the squad’s training base at the Dříteč golf resort near Kunětická hora, confirming that the diagnosis required immediate medical intervention under general anesthesia.
“Pavel had to receive anesthesia so doctors could put his shoulder back into place,” Strouha said. “Fortunately, X-rays ruled out any additional severe damage. He returned to the team from the hospital and just departed this morning.”
Timeline and Missed Fixtures for Club and Country
Medical staff estimate Kačor’s recovery period at a minimum of six weeks, effectively ruling the playmaker out of the immediate qualification matches. The timeline puts his availability for the upcoming play-offs in severe jeopardy.
“We cannot estimate the exact length of the absence yet, but the play-offs will be played in some five weeks, so Pavel’s participation in them is naturally threatened,” Strouha noted regarding the critical November fixtures.
The draw for the play-offs is scheduled for October 9 in Nyon, with the ties set to take place between November 9 and November 17. Following his summer transfer from Karviná, Kačor has featured in six league matches for Slavia Prague this season.
Upcoming Group Stage Finale and Squad Adjustments
The squad will conclude their qualifying group fixtures on Tuesday against Portugal in Leiria. Because Portugal has already secured first place and automatic qualification, while the Czech Republic is locked into second place and a spot in the play-offs, both coaching staffs are expected to rotate their starting lineups significantly.
Given the low stakes of the upcoming fixture in Leiria and the timing of the recovery, the coaching staff confirmed that no immediate replacement player will be called up to the squad to fill Kačor’s roster spot.
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