Sparta Prague players Tomas Koubek and Lukas Vacha have been told to train with the club’s women’s team after telling a female linesman during a match against Zbrojovka Brno that “women belong the kitchen.”

The match last Sunday ended in a 3-3 draw and the Sparta players were aggrieved that referee’s assistant Lucie Ratajova failed to call an offside in stoppage time when Brno equalized.

"Women should be in the kitchen, not officiating a game played by men"

Full screen DAVID W CERNY (REUTERS)

Czech international keeper Koubek and midfielder Vacha vented their spleens after the match, with Koubek opining: “Women should be in the kitchen, not officiating a game played by men.”

“The players will spend several days with the club’s female side so that they can be made aware that women have plenty of worth outside the kitchen,” Sparta’s director general Adam Kotalik told Czech daily Lidove noviny.

The president of the Czech Football Federation, Miroslav Pelta, also called the players’ comments “unacceptable.”

Players' apologies

Both Koubek and Vacha have apologized and put their words down to heated emotions after the game. “Immediately after the game I said something that saddens me and I would like to ask forgiveness from all women,” Koubek wrote on social media.





