Sports News

Ice hockey's Prague "S" derby (as they call it) ended prematurely when Sparta fans let off smoke bombs during the game; Slavia have been awarded a win by the Extraliga. The mighty Barcelona are reportedly keen to steal Czech boy wonder Tomas Rosicky away from Borussia Dortmund, while his old club Sparta Prague have welcomed back defender Vladimir Labant. And the only Czech in basketball's NBA, Jiri Welsch, is finding it hard but keeping his pecker up.

Sports News

Slavia awarded win after Prague hockey derby halted by smoke bombs

Tuesday's Prague derby between Slavia and Sparta, Photo: CTK

The biggest crowd at an ice hockey Extraliga game so far this season - at Tuesday's Prague derby between Slavia and Sparta - saw the game abandoned in the final period after Sparta fans let off a number of smoke bombs, leaving a large part of Slavia's Eden stadium looking like a Victorian London pea-souper. Officials said finishing the game in such conditions would have been irresponsible from the point of view of the health of both players and fans. The score when the decision was taken to end the game prematurely stood at 2:2, though the next day the Extraliga decided to award the hosts a 5:0 victory. Here's league chairman Stanislav Sulc.

"The rules say that in a situation like this there are two possible solutions. The first is a default win, which we've awarded Slavia in this case, or docking the team two points, which would be nonsensical in this case, of course. Counting the score at the time the game ended or an agreement to play the game again would also be nonsense."

Last Czech sides left in Europe facing uphill battles

The two Czech teams left in European competition, Slavia Prague and Slovan Liberec are in UEFA Cup action on Thursday night. Slavia will be hoping the freezing conditions in Prague will help them overcome a 1:0 first leg defeat against Greece's PAOK Salonika. Liberec have a harder task; they need to win away against another Greek club, Panathinaikos.

Barca eyeing Rosa?

One one of Europe's most prestigious clubs, Barcelona, are said to be interested in luring Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky away from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund. Representatives of the two clubs are due to hold talks next week, and any deal would be likely to make Rosicky, who is 22, the most expensive Czech player of all time.

Baranek had taken no drink before crash, say police

The police have said that Sparta striker Miroslav Baranek was to blame for an accident at the weekend in which he and two passengers in his car were injured. The player had not been drinking. Baranek's leg was broken in the accident and he is expected to be out of action for a couple of months.

Sparta welcome back Labant after unsuccessful stint at West Ham

Vladimir Labant has rejoined Sparta, after a year at England's West Ham, where the Slovak defender failed to get regular first team action. Some pundits blamed Sparta's slide in the second half of last season on the sale of Labant and fellow defender Martin 'brother of Dominik' Hasek.

Only Czech in basketball's NBA yet to make mark

Things have not been going so well for the only Czech in basketball's NBA, Jiri Welsch. Welsch joined Golden State Warriors in this year's draft but is yet to make his mark at the club; his appearances are short and he often doesn't even make the bench. The Pardubice-born player is trying to keep mentally focussed, and says he has to be ready to seize