Goalkeeper Kalina receives record 20-year ban for repeated match-fixing offenses
Twenty-nine-year-old goalkeeper Kalina was handed a 20-year suspension, the maximum possible, after being found guilty of 11 corruption offences spanning five years.
A Czech ethical commission has issued a 20-year ban—the longest allowed—to goalkeeper Kalina, 29, for a series of corrupt actions dating back to 2021. Over five years, Kalina committed 11 distinct offences, chiefly accepting bribes of one to two thousand euros to influence matches while wearing Zlín's jersey. The commission highlighted his systematic participation in an organized scheme aimed at financial gain.
Kalina has a five-day window to lodge an appeal. The ruling also references former top-level referee Pavel Býma, who is linked to the same corruption ring, and notes earlier penalties handed to players Samuel Šigut, Jakub Elbel and David Látal. Police investigations continue, and the scandal has already led to Karviná's exclusion from the top league.
Why it matters
The sanction underscores a crackdown on match-fixing, aiming to protect the integrity of Czech football.
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