PRAGUE, March 26 (Reuters) - Czech soccer officials have fined the national team one million crowns ($47,530) for throwing a party until the early hours of Sunday, after they had lost to Germany in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
The Czech Soccer Union said the players had been celebrating
the 29th birthday of Fiorentina defender Tomas Ujfalusi.
'Because the celebration was conducted in an inappropriate
way, which does not fall in line with the behaviour of Czech
Republic national team members, the whole team was punished by a
one-million-crown fine,' the union said in a statement.
Coach Karel Brueckner was quoted by news agency CTK as
saying it was the worst disciplinary offence he had experienced
and that it briefly made him consider resigning.
Tabloid daily
Sip reported on Monday that Ujfalusi, captain
Tomas Rosicky, Jan Polak, Martin Jiranek and Marek Cech had held
a party in a room at the Praha hotel until at least 5.30 a.m..
The players, who will share the cost of the fine among the
whole team, admitted having a late party.
The Czechs lost 2-1 to Germany on Saturday after a weak
performance that sparked wide criticism of the team and
Brueckner.
They next meet Cyprus on Wednesday in the northern Czech
town of Liberec.
