Finance minister tells deputies to pay their own way to Soci football tournament

Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek has refused MPs money to set up a Parliamentary football team which would represent the Czech Republic at the next parliamentary football tournament in Soci, Russia. Deputies from different political parties had asked for 650 thousand crowns from public funds to pay for travel and hotel expenses. The idea came under fire from some of their colleagues in view of the country’s economic problems. Minister Kalousek said on Thursday he had nothing against the idea but that MPS should pay their own way.