Sparta Prague Distances Itself From Controversial Banner at Letná Stadium
AC Sparta Prague publicly distanced itself from a brief banner display during a home match against a rival club, according to club communications director Pavel Jína. The incident occurred during the closing moments of a match that ended in a 0:3 defeat for the home side, as reported by Sport.cz.
Behind the goal in the Sparta fan section, supporters displayed a black flag bearing the inscription “RIP generál” alongside a Serbian flag for several minutes. According to reporting from Sport.cz, the reference pointed directly to Mladić, who died Thursday at the age of 84 in a prison in The Hague.
“AC Sparta Praha se od obsahu transparentu, který se v rámci nedělního derby krátce objevil, distancuje,” said Pavel Jína, communications director for AC Sparta Praha, in a statement provided to Sport.cz. “Šlo o aktivitu jednotlivců a bezprostředně poté došlo k jeho odstranění. Další kroky budeme vyhodnocovat v rámci klubu.”
Did you know? The display at Letná followed a similar controversy on Thursday during a Europa League preliminary match, where fans of Belgrade’s Crvena zvezda also celebrated Mladić with a banner, sparking widespread backlash as reported by Sport.cz.
Context Surrounding the Ratko Mladić References in European Football
Ratko Mladić was the former commander of the Army of the Republika Srpska, convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed during the Yugoslav wars.
Just days after his death, banners surfaced at European football fixtures. The first instance occurred Thursday during the Crvena zvezda fixture, followed quickly by Sunday’s appearance at Letná during the Sparta Prague derby match, according to Sport.cz.
Club Evaluation and Security Measures Following the Match
Sparta Prague officials confirmed that stadium security and club personnel intervened to remove the banner immediately after it appeared in the supporter sector. The club stated that the display was the work of isolated individuals rather than an organized club-sanctioned initiative.
According to Jína’s statement to Sport.cz, club leadership is currently reviewing the incident to determine appropriate follow-up actions regarding stadium security and supporter conduct guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the banner at the Sparta Prague match say?
The banner featured the inscription “RIP generál” alongside a Serbian flag, referencing the late former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić, according to Sport.cz.
How did Sparta Prague respond to the banner?
Club communications director Pavel Jína stated that AC Sparta Prague formally distanced itself from the content, removed the banner immediately, and announced that the club is evaluating further steps.
When and where did the incident take place?
The display occurred during the closing minutes of a home derby match at Letná Stadium that Sparta Prague lost 0:3, as reported by Sport.cz.
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