“Coach Lars Friis continues as coach of the first team of AC Sparta Prague, as do all his colleagues from the implementation team,” the club said in a statement published on the club’s channels on Sunday evening.
The club was swayed by a rather unusual reaction also because Friis himself answered the Sport.cz reporter’s question about his future on Saturday: “If we don’t win here, everyone will be in danger. So it’s a fair question, but if you want an answer, you have to go to someone else.’
In a statement, Sparta added: “The club is sharing this information because the coach himself was asked at the press conference after the match with Baník Ostrava on Saturday about his remaining in the position. And the club, or its top management, must answer it. The player squad continues with the same composition.”
Journalists also asked questions about the atmosphere in the cabin on Saturday after the defeat with Baník. Server infotbal.cz brought the newsthat Birmančevič’s absence from the lineup is due to disagreements with his superiors.
“One of Sparta’s core values is also sharing true information with fans and the public. Veljko Birmančević is injured and due to this health condition, he will not be available to coach Friis in the following matches. The club published this information before the match with Baník Ostrava and did not mislead anyone. It was the injury that caused the player’s absence in the match,” informed the club.
Spokesperson Pavel Jína and coach Friis already spoke about Birmančevič’s injury on Saturday.
However, the situation surrounding strained relations in the club is being resolved. In addition to the exchange of views, the Balkan tension in the cabin between the Serbian support and the quartet of players from Kosovo and Albania – Rrahmani, Krasniqi, Tuci and Laci – is discussed.
“AC Sparta Prague creates an environment for all its employees, players and members of the implementation teams in which they can develop and improve professionally and personally. The space inside the club is open to everyone without distinction. Regardless of nationality, skin color, sexual orientation or religion,” the club statement reads. “Sparta as an open club stands, among other things, on respect for each individual who represents it.”
Currently, the third team in the league table does not specify anything, but it is obvious that it is dedicated to the Balkan theme. A part of the Spartan team also contributed to the sensitive issue, which after the match hung Serbian flags and a banner expressing support for Birmančevič.
The offensive wing thanked the fans, but in the Kosovar community, the photo on social networks caused an uproar.
How can you let this happen @ACSparta_CZ ? Are you going to stay silent on this ?
Show some respect to your players like Albion Rrahmani, Qazim Laçi, Ermal Krasniqi and Indrit Tuci! They deserve your full support. pic.twitter.com/pmBQYGp52a
— Kosovar Football 🇽🇰 (@FootballKosovar) November 3, 2024
The Football Kosovo account claims that it was precisely in response to the Serbian affection that striker Albion Rrahmani posted so-called stories on his Instagram on Sunday morning, which on the contrary reminded of his Kosovar origin and sympathy for Albania.
One can only guess whether the club was alluding to specific events in the virtual space in its statement.
“AC Sparta Praha creates working conditions that enable individuals to give 100 percent performance in the work process. At the same time, the club expects everyone to give their best – as athletes, as people,” the club writes.
“Sparta demands unity and a professional attitude from everyone who has the privilege of wearing the ACS logo on their jersey or clothing as part of their job duties. Only this behavior corresponds to a professional environment where the team and the club always come first.”
In a statement, the team from Letná also revealed that the day after another league defeat, another round of individual interviews with football players took place. “Their detailed content should, with respect to all involved, remain in the cabin,” Sparta announces. “The joint task of everyone at the club now is to overcome a difficult period. And that in an atmosphere of mutual support and cooperation.”
After the weekend, Sparta is already ten points behind the leader Slavia. The next match awaits them on Wednesday in the Champions League, when they welcome Brest of France to Letná.
And it will be more than interesting to see in what mood and mood he will enter the match.
Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round because we’ve got the latest scoop straight from the dramatic world of AC Sparta Prague! It appears that Lars Friis, the man himself, will remain at the helm of this football ship—whether it’s sailing smoothly or heading for the iceberg is up for debate! Yes, folks, Sparta released a statement yesterday confirming Friis and his merry band of coaching comrades are sticking around, so for better or worse, we’re in for a ride!
Now, if you thought the drama stopped there, then you haven’t been paying attention! Over the weekend, following a less-than-stellar match against Baník Ostrava, the press were firing questions at Friis like he was a piñata at a kid’s birthday party. “Will you keep your job?” they seemed to ask. To which he cryptically responded, “If we don’t win here, everyone will be in danger.” Calm down, Lars! Just say what you mean! It’s not like the entire squad is about to be abducted by aliens or something… well, not yet!
But wait—there’s more! The club is taking the unusual step of addressing the ongoings of the locker room after reports of tension circulated. Apparently, things got so heated post-defeat that rival factions of players were practically gearing up for a football version of Survivor. Birmančević, one of the players in the eye of the storm, is reportedly injured—yet his absence has apparently caused more questions than answers.
The official statement claims that Birmančević’s situation is all about injury and the club is committed to transparency. But hang on! There’s a smorgasbord of Balkan drama unfolding right under the club’s nose. Disagreements over loyalties and nationalities in a team where guys are from Kosovo, Serbia, and Albania seem to pave the road for a classic sitcom setup! You can practically hear the laugh track in the background.
Meanwhile, in an act that could only happen in sports, players hung up Serbian flags after the match. Yes, flags! Balancing nationalism in a football club is like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming swords—entertaining but potentially bloody! Not surprisingly, this act sent the Kosovar community into a digital meltdown, with social media buzzing faster than a bee caught in a petrol station.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more soap opera-like, we have some juicy Instagram posts from Albion Rrahmani, reminding everyone of his Kosovar roots. It’s like a public throwdown—except instead of slapping each other in the face, they’re slapping their own national flags around.
In response to all this, AC Sparta made a claim that “unity and respect” are at the heart of their organization. They would like to remind everyone that everyone is welcome, regardless of nationality, skin color, or if they prefer their coffee black or with two sugars. Well, that’s fantastic! But it’s also hard to believe when you’re dealing with rival players squabbling post-match like children who can’t agree on a game of tag.
So here we are, folks! Sparta currently languishes third in the league—ten points behind the leaders and sporting a bruising Champions League encounter against French side Brest quite soon. Will the atmosphere be any better by then? Will they come together as one unified team or continue with their petty struggles? My money’s on the latter, because let’s be honest: tensions like this make for much better TV, don’t they?
Tune in next time for more hilarity—or horror, depending on your point of view—from the hallowed grounds of Sparta Prague. Will the players manage to keep it civil off the pitch, or are we setting up for the reality show of the century? держитесь
AC Sparta Prague officially announced on Sunday evening that Coach Lars Friis will remain at the helm of the first team for the foreseeable future, alongside his entire coaching staff, emphasizing stability amid recent turbulence within the club.
The announcement comes on the heels of Friis’s candid remarks to a Sport.cz reporter regarding his precarious position, stating, “If we don’t win here, everyone will be in danger. So it’s a fair question, but if you want an answer, you have to go to someone else.” These comments echoed a growing uncertainty surrounding the club’s performance and future.
In the official statement, Sparta explained the necessity of addressing inquiries about Friis’s future after his press conference appearance post-match against Baník Ostrava, conveying that transparency with the media is a priority. Furthermore, they reassured fans that the player squad composition stays unchanged amid the coaching speculation.
The atmosphere within the Sparta locker room has come under scrutiny following their disappointing defeat to Baník; reports suggest tensions flared, particularly between Serbian players and their counterparts from Kosovo and Albania, notably involving Veljko Birmančević, who has reportedly been sidelined due to disagreements with management.
Despite the challenges, the club insisted, “One of Sparta’s core values is also sharing true information with fans and the public. Veljko Birmančević is injured and due to this health condition, he will not be available to coach Friis in the following matches.” This reiteration of their stance aimed to quell any concerns regarding misleading information surrounding player absences.
However, the tensions extend beyond mere injuries; the chemistry within the team has been reported as strained, particularly between Serbian players and the quartet from Kosovo and Albania — Rrahmani, Krasniqi, Tuci, and Laci — as discussions around unity continue within the club’s ranks.
AC Sparta Prague further asserted their commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all players and staff, underscoring their principle of respect for diversity. The club highlighted, “Sparta as an open club stands, among other things, on respect for each individual who represents it.”
Despite currently being positioned third in the league table, the team has seemingly found itself embroiled in tensions tied to their Balkan heritage. A segment of the Sparta team publicly displayed Serbian flags and banners supporting Birmančević, an act that ignited backlash among the Kosovar community.
The controversial display prompted reactions on social media, with the Kosovar Football account criticizing the club for perceived favoritism, urging them to acknowledge and support their players from different backgrounds. “Show some respect to your players like Albion Rrahmani, Qazim Laçi, Ermal Krasniqi and Indrit Tuci! They deserve your full support.”
In response to the reactions stemming from the aftermath of displaying Serbian solidarity, striker Albion Rrahmani took to Instagram to reinforce his Kosovar identity, indirectly addressing the discontent within the fanbase regarding the support shown towards Birmančević.
The club’s communication clearly emphasized the expectation of unity and professionalism from all associated with the ACS branding, reiterating the significance of cooperation in navigating current challenges. “Sparta demands unity and a professional attitude from everyone who has the privilege of wearing the ACS logo.”
The team from Letná indicated that they are conducting individual interviews with players to foster better team dynamics in light of their recent performance struggles. “The joint task of everyone at the club now is to overcome a difficult period. And that in an atmosphere of mutual support and cooperation.”
With the team now ten points adrift of league leaders Slavia, they must prepare for their upcoming Champions League match against Brest of France this Wednesday, leaving fans eager to see how the team will respond to the challenges that lie ahead.