Slavia Prague ordered to forfeit derby with Sparta as stadium closes for four matches

Slavia Prague ordered to forfeit derby with Sparta as stadium closes for four matches
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The governing body additionally imposed a fine of 600,000 Czech crowns on Sparta Prague due to their supporters igniting flares and causing damage to the venue. For Slavia, who had to concede the game by a 3-0 scoreline, this penalty marked the highest possible under the competition's regulations.

"We acknowledge the disciplinary panel's ruling with due regard and recognise the gravity of the full circumstances along with the duties linked to hosting the fixture," Slavia declared in an official release.

The disturbance that occurred on Saturday drew international attention when footage showing Slavia supporters firing flares and confronting Sparta athletes spread rapidly online. Slavia's president Jaroslav Tvrdik described the event as a stain on the game and announced that the club intends to shut down the North Stand, home to the most passionate fans, on a permanent basis.

Furthermore, Slavia has barred forward Tomas Chory and playmaker David Doudera from participating until the end of the campaign because of their conduct in the game where each was dismissed with a red card, and confirmed that both will no longer feature for the title-holding Czech side.

The clash was halted when a large group of local supporters invaded the playing area in the final moments, at a point when Slavia, the home team, held a 3-2 advantage and stood on the brink of securing the Czech League championship.

Slavia's followers broke through the safety perimeters in added time and swarmed onto the turf, some holding burning flares as they headed towards the away supporters' area. Fireworks were hurled into the spectator zones while athletes from each side tried to exit the field.

Officers from the Czech force stepped in to regain control and announced the initiation of legal action over alleged public disorder. Officials further verified that Sparta's custodian Jakub Surovcik was one of the individuals pursued by the home crowd and ended up being hit by a flare.