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Czech club sign 22-year-old who 'has never played football' after his father paid €20,000 euros

Czech club sign 22-year-old who 'has never played football' after his father paid €20,000 euros

22-year-old Martin Podhajsky is to play for FK Usti nad Labem despite having no football experience.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

A club in Czech Republic are letting a 22-year-old play after his father paid €20,000 for the special privilege.

FK Usti nad Labem play in the Czech third tier and are currently sixth in the league, having taken 10 points from their firt six games.

But the club are said to do something very out of the ordinary by allowing a complete novice represent the club.

Martin Podhajsky has never played football and is actually a law student and an employee for Viagem, the real estate company of president Pemysl Kuban.

His experience with football is typically limited to FIFA games but the rookie has been registered with the Football Association of the Czech Republic.

The plan is for him to play ten minutes for him to start training with the team before making his debut in the spring.

Usti have seven home games in a row because of ongoing reconstruction of the athletics track at their home ground, the City Stadium.

He is expected to replace captain Jakub Mares and play ten minutes as a striker, with the funds going towards sponsorship.

Image: Usti nad Labem
Image: Usti nad Labem

"He has never played football," president Kuban admitted.

"Only FIFA from what I know. However you don't just see 500k czech crowns rolling on the floor every day. If someone gives me this type of money, I'll let anyone play.

"He said himself that he would like to play, then his dad called and things started to move. Martin is a law student and an employee of Viagem.

"We are now adjusting the contract with Martin, and the fans will see him already at our first home game, so far only on the substitutes' bench."

Image: MAFRA
Image: MAFRA

Interestingly it seems as though the club's fans are supportive of the decision as a poll from iDNES.cz shows that 63% "don't have a problem" with it and believe it is a "win-win".

Other moves from the club's ownership in recent times include giving away a thousand season tickets for free and hiring the 2020 miss Czech Republic Valerie Herianova as a reporter.

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Featured Image Credit: Usti nad Labem & Viagem

Topics: Czech Republic

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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