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West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal is among three players sent home from the Czech national team after they broke rules by going out partying ahead of a vital Euro 2024 qualifier.
Coufal’s team-mates Jakub Brabec and Jan Kuchta were also kicked out the squad for ‘violating national team rules in a fundamental way’ by visiting a nightclub in Olomouc on Saturday night.
Having drawn 1-1 in Poland on Friday, the players were supposed to be recuperating and preparing for Monday night’s home qualifier against Moldova, where a win or draw will see them through to the finals.
However, Czech news outlet iSport details how the trio – along with Czech football association executive Tomas Neumann – partied at the Belmondo nightclub until the early hours.
iSport said they were drinking alcohol with photographs and videos emerging which showed Coufal, Kuchta and Brabec in the nightclub.
They partied alongside amateur footballers from the area who were celebrating the end of their season.
A video circulated on social media appeared to show Brabec walking out into a road before being guided back to the pavement.
All three player were involved in Friday’s draw with Poland in Warsaw and would likely also have featured against Moldova, handing national team coach Jaroslav Silhavy a selection headache.
A statement by the Czech FA read: ‘Three players fundamentally violated the internal rules of the national team on Saturday night.
‘Jakub Brabec, Vladimir Coufal and Jan Kuchta have left the national team meeting with immediate effect by the decision of the management.’
Coufal, the 31-year-old right-back, has made 38 appearances for his country since 2017 and has played 15 times for the Hammers so far this season.
Centre-back Brabec, 31, plays for the Greek club Aris Thessaloniki and has played 40 times for his country since 2016, scoring two goals.
Forward Kuchta, 26, is at Czech club Sparta Prague. He has scored three goals in 14 international outings since his debut in 2021.
Coach Silhavy and captain Tomas Soucek, also a West Ham player, are due to give a press conference on Sunday afternoon ahead of the Moldova game.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
