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| - The deputy head of the Czech Football Association (FACR) and three other men were taken into custody Sunday, two days after being detained over suspected match-fixing, a court spokeswoman said. Controversial FACR deputy chairman Roman Berbr was detained last Friday together with 18 other people as part of an organised criminal group. The Prague-6 district court also took Prague-Vysehrad football club director Roman Rogoz, former player Michal Kanik and former referee Tomas Grimm into custody Sunday, its spokeswoman Zuzana Barochova told AFP. "The custody was motivated by fears they could flee, affect witnesses or continue their criminal activities," Barochova said. "All four have appealed the custody ruling," she added. On Friday, police raided the FACR's Prague headquarters and other places linked to football across the country. Berbr has held his post since 2013 and according to local media has been pulling the strings in Czech football for years. The 66-year-old former referee, who is married to the EU member's first-ever female referee Dagmar Damkova, served as a secret police agent during the communist era. Media have made allegations over Berbr in relation to corruption cases and bullying at the FA, but he has never been charged. His former boss Miroslav Pelta led the FA until he was detained in 2017 on charges of bribery and abuse of power. Pelta faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted in the trial currently under way. frj/dj
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