UEFA expel Czech Cup winners MFK Karvina from Europa League over match-fixing scandal

UEFA have expelled Czech Cup winners MFK Karvina from the 2025/26 Europa League and fined them 10 million Czech koruna (£354,000) after finding the club directly or indirectly involved in arranging or influencing match outcomes at the national level.

The UEFA Appeals Body ruled Karvina ineligible for failing to comply with admission criteria, with the club choosing not to appeal the decision. Karvina had earned their Europa League play-off berth through their domestic cup triumph, but the ruling has triggered a cascade of changes to European competition spots allocated to Czech clubs.

Viktoria Plzen will now take the Europa League play-off spot originally reserved for Karvina. Hradec Kralove step into Plzen’s former position in the Europa League second qualifying round, while Jablonec will enter the Conference League second qualifying round, filling the vacancy left by Hradec Kralove’s promotion up the ladder.

The expulsion compounds an already turbulent period for Karvina. The Czech Football Association (FACR) had already expelled the club from the top division on 16 June, and in March the national association launched a disciplinary investigation involving 47 individuals and teams — including referees, officials, players, former players, and clubs from across the top four leagues — all facing allegations connected to the same match-fixing scandal.