Controversy erupted in the Czech Liga on Monday night as Brno notched a late, late equaliser against Sparta Prague in a 3-3 draw.
Sparta's players were incensed, with the goal standing despite Brno midfielder Alois Hycka being several yards offside - standing practically on the goal-line, in fact, following a header from a corner - as he turned the ball into the Prague net.
You can probably understand their ire given the context.
However, some of the players took their anger too far - or to social media to be exact - admonishing the female referee's assistant who failed to put her flag up for what was as clear an offside decision.
Injured Sparta player Lukas Vácha tweeted the following...
Ke sporáku... pic.twitter.com/Nb9iMNCZPg
— Lukáš Vácha (@Vason6) October 2, 2016
...which translates as, "to the cooker." Ah, yes, let's be blokes and have the b*****r.
After Sunday's game, Sparta goalkeeper Tomas Koubek echoed Vácha's sentiments, telling reporters:
My opinion is that women belong at the stove and should not officiate men's football.
Both men subsequently apologised for their statements, with Vácha taking to Facebook to say:
I would like to express my opinion. This comment was directed to a specific error which affected the outcome of the game, not for any other women. If it hurts some, I would like to clarify that it wasn't in any way chauvinistic. I support women in "male" roles and am also a female football fan.
Koubek also apologised for his remarks towards women, somewhat more sincerely if not directly to the official in question, by posting a photograph of his partner and daughter with the following statement:
Yesterday in Brno error which has caused a lot of emotions...
I immediately after the game said the sentence which saddens me, and for which I would like to apologise to all women.
Wasn't meant chauvinistically, my statement was directed at a specific person and situation that arose in the game. And vice versa I love my girls and I want to do something in life that we're proud of.
Sparta CEO Adam Kotalík described both men's comments as 'unacceptable', and announced that the pair will act as ambassadors for Sparta Prague Ladies' upcoming Champions League fixture with FC Twente.
However, Kotelnik also ordered that, in addition to ambassadorial duties, "both will report to the head of Sparta women's football, Dusan Žovince, and attend several training sessions with one of our female teams, to see for themselves that women can be handy not only at the stove."
Fantastic.
We're sure the women's team will be more than accepting of the lads' respective apologies when it comes to, say, a 50-50 challenge during a kick-about in training. An extra pair of shin-pads certainly wouldn't go astray for Koubek and Vácha.
