SCANDAL The FK Marila Příbram soccer club made a controversial appointment by hiring former Viktoria Žižkov manager Ivan Horník as new vice president. Horník was banned from professional soccer for two years after his involvement in the biggest corruption scandal in Gambrinus liga history, in which club officials and referees fixed games. Horník was considered a key figure in the bribery case. Příbram owner Jaroslav Starka said that Horník was an expert who could help him scout new players.

BASKETBALL The Czech women's basketball team finished seventh at the World Championship in Brazil. The Czechs, who are the reigning European champions, notched four wins and four lossses in the tournament. Australia was crowned world champion after beating Russia in the Sept. 24 final. The favored U.S. team finished third.

NHL The New York Rangers could open the next NHL season in Prague, the Česká sportovní marketing agency announced in mid-September. The agency's owner, Tomáš Petera, told reporters that talks with the NHL began early last month. The game would be played at Sazka Arena.

FINE The Sparta Praha soccer club has levied an unprecedented fine against defender Tomáš Řepka for obscene gestures he made toward opposing fans during Sparta's Gambrinus liga game in Teplice Sept. 18. Řepka, who came to Sparta from the English Premiership's West Ham United last winter, paid 80,000 Kč ($3,564). He was the fist player in the league to be sanctioned for insulting opposing fans.

REVOLT Four Czech rugby team players withdrew from the national team before a World Cup qualifier in Spain, Sept. 30, in protest of the removal of team captain Ladislav Vondrášek from the lineup. Vondrášek was removed after criticizing coaches for poor communication.

WRESTLING Wrestler Marek Švec won a silver medal in the men's 96-kilogram (210-pound) Greco-Roman category at the World Championship in China Sept. 26. Švec defeated four opponents, including two-time Olympic champion Hamza Yerlikaya of Turkey.

CUPS Three of the four Czech soccer teams in the UEFA Cup advanced from the competition's first round. Mladá Boleslav celebrated a sensational win over French powerhouse Olympique Marseille Sept. 28 game, advancing to the next round. Similarly, Liberec beat Serbia's CZ Belgrade 2–1 to advance. Sparta Praha advanced after a tie with Scotland's Hearths of Midlothian. Only Slavia Praha failed to advance, losing to the Tottenham Hotspurs 1–0.