PRAGUE (AP) — Czech Cup winner Karviná was expelled from the top division as punishment by the Czech Football Association for its involvement in a major match-fixing scandal.
The association’s ethics committee also fined Karviná 10 million Czech koruna ($480,000) for offering bribes to two referees and two players to influence a league match and two relegation playoff games involving the club in 2024.
Karviná town mayor Jan Wolf offered the bribes and was banned from soccer for 12 years and fined 3 million Czech koruna ($144,000).
The committee announced its decision late Monday. The club, which is owned by the eastern Czech town, has five days to appeal.
The verdict will likely impact the club’s participation in European competitions, with UEFA to have a final say.
By winning the Cup, Karviná advanced directly to the fourth round of qualifying in the Europa League next season. If it were to lose the fixture it would still have a berth in the third-tier Conference League.
In March, the association said a total of 47 individuals and teams, including referees, officials, players, former players and clubs from the top four leagues, were facing a disciplinary investigation for their alleged involvement in the scandal.
The announcement came after Czech police detained dozens of people in nationwide raids.
The ethics committee also said it fined five players from lower leagues and banned them from 15 months to 12 years for agreeing to fix matches.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - A logo of the Czech Football Association is seen in front of the Czech Football Association headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, on March 24, 2026, after the Czech police detained dozens of people following an investigation into a match-fixing scandal. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — There has barely been any separation between Europe and the United States at this year's Solheim Cup.
Something has to give on Sunday.
The teams were locked at 8-8 ahead of the start of singles play at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, where wet conditions greeted the arrival of players and fans on Day 3 and umbrellas lined the fairways as the early groups went out.
At stake is the crystal trophy that has been on show on the boisterous first tee all week and in the possession of the Americans since 2024.
They need 14 points to ensure retaining it. Both teams require 14 1/2 points for an outright win.
There was early European blue on the board, with Esther Henseleit and Nanna Koerstz Madsen taking 2-up leads. Charley Hull, who contributed just a half-point for Team Europe from four matches in a misfiring combination with Lottie Woad over the first two days, won the first hole of the lead singles match against Megan Khang and held that lead heading to No. 7.
Out last will be Rose Zhang of the U.S. vs. Celine Boutier of Europe at 1:22 p.m. local time (7:22 a.m. EDT).
Jennifer Kupcho gave the U.S. team some unlikely momentum with an outrageous finish on Saturday, pouring in birdie putts on Nos. 17 and 18 totaling around 120 feet to win a point and leave the teams tied again.
They were also level, at 4-4, after Day 1.
It is the seventh time that the Solheim Cup has been tied after two days. The home team has a record of 5-0-1 on the six previous occasions.
In the past five editions of the event, the singles session has been tied three times and Europe has won 6 1/2-5 1/2 the other two times.
Whoever wins, it's a day that rarely fails to deliver.
See AP’s full golf coverage here
Esther Henseleit of Europe plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Alison Lee of the United States plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Europe fans gather in the rain on the 1st tee on the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Spectators gather in the rain on the 1st tee on the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Charley Hull of Europe plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Maja Stark, right, and Linn Grant of Europe celebrate after putting on the 15th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Andrea Lee, right, bumps fists with Yealimi Noh of the United States after holing a putt on the 9th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Charley Hull of Europe plays from a bunker near the 8th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Europe supporters stand along the course on day two of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Jennifer Kupcho of the United States celebrates after holing a putt on the 18th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
