Divisive business manager of Czech football team steps down

The business manager of the Czech national football team, Vlastimil Košťál, has resigned. He had been in the position for the same six-and-a-half-year period that Karel Bruckner served as team coach. Mr Košťál is also the deputy head of the Czech football association and is regarded as one of the most powerful and controversial people in Czech soccer. Commentators have welcomed his resignation; his presence in the national team structure was reportedly a deterrent to potential successors to Mr Bruckner as Czech coach.