By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 18 – CSKA Moscow owner Yevgeni Giner (pictured) is reportedly in talks with Ales Rebicek, owner of Slavia Prague, to buy the Czech football club.
Local news site efotbal.cz reported that the negotiations were launched in September 2013 and have been progressing. The amount of the potential bill has not been disclosed. Rebicek, who served as the Czech Minister of Transport in the government of Mirek Topolanek from 2006 to 2009, became Slavia’s owner and president in August 2011.
The sale could provide a much-needed financial boost to the Prague-based club which currently has a budget of about 110 million crowns (€4 million).
Established in 1892, Slavia plays in the Gambrinus Liga, the top tier of the Czech professional football league. The club’s Eden Stadium has a capacity of 20,800 and hosted the European Super Cup Final between Bayern Munich and Chelsea in September.
In the 2012/2013 season, Slavia’s home matches had an average attendance of some 6,942, about 21% less than its biggest rival, Sparta Prague, whose home matches had an average attendance of 8,785.
Last season, Slavia’s matches at the Eden Stadium drew a total attendance of 104,133, an increase of 20.9% compared with the 2011/2012 season. Despite the positive growth trend, Slavia was ranked fourth in terms of home attendance at the Gambrinus Liga, preceded by Banik Ostrava, Sparta Prague and Viktoria Plzen.
The Prague derby between Slavia and Sparta drew the season’s record attendance, with 19,410 spectators present at Sparta’s Generali Arena in Prague on April 13.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734882724labto1734882724ofdlr1734882724owedi1734882724sni@i1734882724kswom1734882724ada.w1734882724alsor1734882724aj1734882724