Miroslav Pelta, former Chairman of the Czech football association (FACR), has been charged with bribing former Education Minister, Simonu Kratochvílovou, reports Czech Television. It is understood that Pelta denies the charge, which is that he offered Kratochvílovou the use of an apartment in the centre of Prague for free.

Police are investigating allegations that grant money from the Ministry of Education intended for sporting organisations was illegally redistributed. In June 2017, Pelta resigned from FACR, after a May statement confirmed that he had been implicated in police investigations. The allegations caused brewer Grambinus to drop its sponsorship of FACR, which had run for 19 years.

It is understood that police had hoped to conclude the case in October but after bugging the flat with hidden microphones, further officials have been implicated. These include former Director of the Ministry of Education, Zdeňka Břízu, plus Chairman and General Secretary of the Czech Union of Sport (ČUS) Miroslav Jansta and Jana Boháče, reports Czech Television. It is understood that prosecutors will decide on next steps in the New Year.