A video published by VIAGEM following the defeat in Varnsdorf sparked a wave of criticism

Our first team lost in the second round of the MOL Cup away to third-tier side Varnsdorf and were thus knocked out of the cup. After the match, however, attention was drawn more to a post that appeared on the VIAGEM club’s Facebook page – a short video in which one of the Ústí-based presenters asked questions of a fan of the home side.

The Varnsdorf team has long been known for having a number of foreign players in its squad, including players with dark skin and several Ukrainian footballers. The fan interviewed on camera said: “I don’t really like black people, but what can you do?” This statement appeared twice in the video that the club posted on its social media.

The fan then commented on the Ukrainian presence at the club: “We’ve got nothing but Ukrainians here. So what are we supposed to do? The money comes from Ukraine, we play Ukrainian football. We’re Kyiv’s B team,” he said with a smile.

These words also touch on a Varnsdorf club icon – manager Pavel Rudnytskyi, a native of Ukraine, who played several second-division seasons for the team and was in the starting line-up for the vast majority of matches. Without Ukrainian support, however, football in Varnsdorf would probably not have survived at all following relegation from the second division – the club was saved at the time by owner Vlastimil Gabriel, together with Ukrainian investor Igor, who, according to available information, eventually became a big fan of the club himself.

Without Ukrainian players, football might not have been played in Varnsdorf at all, because following the relegation the Czech squad practically fell apart and local players were not keen to join such an uncertain project. It is also worth noting that a number of black players have represented Varnsdorf in the past – including Abdullahi Tanko, who later transferred to Baník Ostrava and brought the club significant financial benefits.

The video published by VIAGEM has therefore sparked a range of reactions and questions as to whether it should have been published at all. Regardless of whether the fan meant what he said or was attempting to make a joke, the video contains remarks that many perceive as racist and offensive. Controversial content has long been a feature of the Ústí football scene, but in this case it must be acknowledged that this went a step too far, and the club should exercise greater caution with regard to similar content in future.