Sparta get the party started
Friday, May 23, 2003
Article summary
AC Sparta Praha have won the Czech title after being awarded three points for an abandoned game.
Article body
Match abandoned
Sparta have been awarded a 3-0 victory over their local rivals after the match at the V Dolicku stadium on Saturday was called off after 74 minutes, with Sparta leading 2-1, after a drunken Bohemians supporter ran on to the pitch and attacked one of the referee's assistants.
Bohemians in peril
Bohemians have been handed an unprecedented €16,000 fine for the cancellation of the game and ordered to play their next three home matches at least 100km from their home ground. They are now perilously close to being relegated with two games of the season remaining.
Title reclaimed
By contrast, the league's decision to award Sparta victory saw them open up an unassailable six-point lead over title challengers SK Slavia Praha. Due to having a better head-to-head record against Slavia, Sparta have reclaimed the title they lost last season to FC Slovan Liberec.
Official confirmation
Sparta will be officially crowned champions after their home match against SK Sigma Olomouc on Saturday. They have won all but two titles since the creation of the league in 1993, with only Slavia's win in 1995/96 and Slovan's triumph last season breaking the sequence.
