Kovac caught up in Czech crisis

08 April 2009 18:00
West Ham midfielder Radoslav Kovac is one of several players to have been suspended by the Czech Republic, who have also sacked their coach. The Czechs have dismissed Petr Rada while captain Tomas Ujfalusi has retired. The Fiorentina defender has quit international football following allegations made against himself and several team-mates, including Kovac and Reading midfielder Marek Matejovsky. Rada was shown the door after just eight months in charge following a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign. The 2-1 home defeat by neighbours Slovakia last week left the Czechs fourth in Group Three, five points adrift of leaders Northern Ireland and with just two wins from six matches. That form prompted the Czech football association to end their co-operation with Rada, who took the reins from Karel Bruckner at the end of Euro 2008. On a troubled day for the Czechs, Ujfalusi also announced his international retirement while several players have been suspended following allegations in the media of indiscipline. Reports claimed Ujfalusi went on a late-night drinking session at a restaurant following the defeat to Slovakia, along with team-mates Milan Baros, Kovac, Martin Fenin, Matejovsky and Vaclav Sverkos. Czech FA board member Jaroslav Starka confirmed those players had been suspended, although that ban may be lifted when a new coach is in place. "The executive board of the Czech FA has banned all these six players, who were present at the bar after the defeat to Slovakia," said Starka. "However, it remains to be seen what a new coach will do with them once he is appointed. It will depend on him whether he will nominate them or not in future. "Ujfalusi has decided to retire from international football though, blaming the country's federation and the media for his decision. "Because of the current environment in the federation and the media, I don't want to represent the country any more," the 31-year-old said in a statement on the federation's website, nv.fotbal.cz. "It's a consequence of the last qualifying games."

Source: Eurosport