Miroslav Pelta, the former head of the Czech Football Association, has once again been convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison. This time, Prague’s Municipal Court handed down a five-and-a-half-year sentence, along with a 5 million Czech crown (221,000 USD) fine and a five-year ban from holding any executive position. This verdict comes after a retrial, as previous sentences imposed in 2021 and 2023 were overturned by an appeals court. The case dates back to 2017 when authorities launched an investigation into alleged fraud involving Pelta and state subsidies for soccer clubs. Prosecutors suspected that Pelta had used his influence to steer funding towards certain clubs, including FK Jablonec, which he partially owned. The court found that Pelta, using his connection with Simona Kratochvilova, a former deputy education minister, manipulated the allocation of 176 million Czech crowns (7.8 million USD) in state subsidies. Kratochvilova, also convicted in the case, received a six-year prison sentence, a six-year ban from public office, and a 2 million Czech crown (88,000 USD) fine. Both Pelta and Kratochvilova maintain their innocence and have the right to appeal the verdict. The scandal shook the Czech football world and led to the resignation of Pelta from his position in May 2017. Education Minister Katerina Valachova also stepped down due to the scandal, although she was not a suspect but a witness. The conviction and sentencing of Pelta marks another chapter in the ongoing investigation into corruption within Czech football.
Former Czech Football Chief Pelta Sentenced to Prison Again in Fraud Case
