PRAGUE: Czech football plunged further into confusion three days after  police raided the national association’s headquarters and other locations around the country and charged 20 people with corruption.

Deputy FA chief Roman Berbr, who was among the 20 people charged with match fixing last Friday, handed in his resignation. He is in police custody.

The 66-year-old former secret police agent quit shortly before an emergency meeting of the federation, according to president Martin Malik.

Among the actions taken on Monday had been the dismissal of the referee commission, including chairman Jozef Chovanec.

Malik said: “All of us, who are active in Czech football, we let this happen. The situation which we are dealing with now is abnormal. It is an attack against the very essence of football. I cannot tell how big the impact will be.”

Malik said the association would cooperate closely with the police to create a special unit focusing on preventing match-fixing, similar to other UEFA members. The European governing body had been informed.

Local media reported that the focus of the alleged match fixing was on the second and third tiers of Czech football with a number of referees also under investigation.

As part of a seven-point plan to address the situation, the executive committee ordered a review of the finances of regional chapters with a special focus on the area Berbr represented.

The association will also continue with its program of enlisting new referees and monitor both professional and amateur competitions to prevent potential match-fixing.

Malik added: “Let me state that these seven points should only be seen as the beginning of a long journey during which Czech football… must regain the trust of fans, partners and the general public.”

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