Prague derby between Slavia and Sparta abandoned after fans invade pitch

[p]At the time of the interruption, only a few minutes remained to be played at Eden Stadium, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/slavia-prague-viXGgnyB/sparta-prague-6qA358jH/?mid=zucM8nmD"]Slavia led 3-2[/a] and were just seconds away from clinching the title.[/p][p]The disciplinary committee of the League Football Association will now deal with the unfinished match, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/slavia-prague/viXGgnyB/"]Slavia[/a] could face a forfeit loss of 0-3. If that happens, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sparta-prague/6qA358jH/"]Sparta[/a] would cut Slavia’s lead at the top of the table to five points with three rounds left, keeping their title hopes alive.[/p][p]Slavia also faces a potential fine in the millions of crowns and a stadium closure; they are scheduled to host [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jablonec/CM8ySpMH/"]Jablonec[/a] at Eden in a midweek round on Wednesday.[/p][embed guid="41ea06df-5444-42e0-be47-6599791ee883" url="https://x.com/LivesportCZ/status/2053199442090529218" social-type="twitter" /][p]Slavia president Jaroslav Tvrdik addressed the fans about half an hour after the match was interrupted. [/p][p][b]"I’m truly sorry to have to tell you this, because we were all looking forward to celebrating the championship title in just a few minutes. But since you stormed the pitch early and two Sparta players were physically attacked, the opposition has already left the stadium, and the match officials, security staff, and police have decided to end the game,"[/b] Tvrdik said in front of the North Stand, home to Slavia’s most passionate supporters.[/p][p]The club president urged fans to leave the stadium peacefully. [b]"If I can ask you for anything, please let’s not make this situation any worse than it already is. There’s nothing we can do now; we have to keep fighting, and this is our shared responsibility. This was very unfortunate, and I’m extremely sorry,"[/b] he added.[/p][p]He later apologised for the incident at a press conference and admitted the match could be forfeited.[/p][image alt="Shocking scenes unfolded in Prague" id="c381b5e9-7e13-4544-979d-169053cce35b" credit-line="Pavel Mazáč / CNC / Profimedia" guid="0fe7e4ef-aef6-4ea1-8582-00280c3058d3" original-width="1400" original-height="787" /][p]Home supporters had already gathered just behind the advertising boards at the start of the nine minutes of added time. Only a handful of stewards were watching them, and riot police only entered the pitch after the crowd had already invaded. Hundreds of fans poured down from the stands, with some Slavia ultras heading towards the away section and throwing flares at Sparta supporters.[/p][p]In the ensuing chaos, Slavia fans clashed with Sparta players on the pitch. TV footage showed one troublemaker pouring beer over goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/surovcik-jakub/fwXhJa0F/"]Jakub Surovcik[/a], while another shoved forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vojta-matyas/dK1AFaRf/"]Matyas Vojta[/a]. Even repeated announcements warning fans not to enter the pitch and about the risk of a forfeit could not stop the crowd.[/p][p]Sparta released a brief statement on the social media platform X. [b]"The entire AC Sparta Praha team has left Slavia Praha’s stadium due to safety concerns," [/b]the club said.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/czech-republic/chance-liga/"]Follow the Czech league with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]