Slavia's fans return to Eden after 105-day stadium ban — but not without controversy

Slavia Prague played a home match in front of a full Eden Stadium for the first time in 105 days. The club had been serving a four-match disciplinary ban following the May derby against city rivals Sparta, when fans from the North Stand ran onto the pitch and injured three Sparta supporters. The game against Bohemians ended in a 2:2 draw.

The return of spectators came with a raft of new security measures, introduced at the initiative of the club's new security advisor, former police officer Jiří Komorous. Fans were required to buy tickets linked to personal ID checks, hand over large backpacks, and undergo more thorough searches — similar to the procedures at Prague's O2 Arena. However, the club decided against installing additional barriers beyond the existing perimeter fencing.

Cheers and jeers in the stands

Even before kick-off, the home crowd chanted the name of departing defender Oscar Dorley, whose farewell video was shown on the big screens. Among the honoured guests was former Slavia coach Karel Jarolím, who turns 70 on Sunday, while the ceremonial kick-off was performed by Prague football legends Antonín Panenka and Milan Škoda.

The goodwill, however, was short-lived: ultras from the North Stand hurled obscenities at security advisor Komorous over his communist-era past, and also targeted security director Kopecký. Symbolically, the fans then fell silent for eight minutes — a reference to the Soviet-led invasion of August 1968. Former Slavia player Matěj Jurásek, who moved to rival Sparta, also came in for abuse.

The visiting fans were not to be outdone: Bohemians supporters marched through the streets of Vršovice carrying a banner criticising their own club's management, and later a mocking banner aimed at Slavia chairman Jaroslav Tvrdík appeared in the stands. Notably, unlike May's events, there was no large-scale pyrotechnics or choreography this time — fans limited themselves to a small tribute marking 1968. The loudest jeers were reserved for home forward Tomáš Chorý, who scored to make it 2:1, though Bohemians ultimately salvaged a draw.

Players and coach react

Bohemians midfielder Roman Květ admitted he prefers playing in front of full stands: "I don't care whether they're for me or against me — I just want the stadiums full and roaring." Slavia midfielder Lukáš Provod said the team was especially disappointed with the draw precisely because they had been looking forward to a full Eden and wanted to give the fans more than just a single point. Slavia coach Jindřich Trpišovský stressed that playing in front of a packed stadium is far more enjoyable, even if the noise makes communication between players on the pitch more difficult.

Source: prazsky.denik.cz