The clash between the Czech MEP and his Slovenian colleagues was caused by Wednesday’s match of the 4th preliminary round of the Champions League between SK Slavia Praha and the Danish club FC Midtjylland. After the failure of the “stitched” Vondra on Twitter, he reacted sharply to the result of the match, for which he blamed the Slovenian referee. Damir Skomina had Slavia goalkeeper Ondřej Kolář caught the penalty first, but the Danish team was already successful on the second attempt. In Vondra’s contribution, he described Slovenians as “opportunistic sows”.
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Slavia, I am sincerely sorry today. It was cut by a Slovenian judge. I always said that Slovenes can be opportunistic sows. See, for example, the behavior towards tourists transiting to Croatia. Today it was confirmed again …
— Alexandr Vondra (@AlexandrVondra) September 30, 2020
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Vondra’s colleagues from the European Parliament responded on Friday when they sent a joint letter to the Czech MEP requesting an apology. “You did not offend us on Wednesday, but your people. The Czechs, as we have known them so far, would be humiliated by such behavior, “Slovenian MEPs told Vondra, adding that they hope that the Czech politician will apologize for unnecessary hatred in order to save the honor of his people, who deserve better representation.
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“We drink Czech beer, you drink Slovenian wine,” the MEPs wrote about good relations with the Czechs, who, according to them, have a lot of great moments with Slovenes. “When we fight, just like sports rivals for trophies and honor, and when we lose, we shake hands anyway, because that’s fair sportsmanship,” the letter said.
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On Thursday, Vondra said that he would not withdraw the statement. “It was an exaggeration of a football fan. “Anyone who watches football and sees involuntary injustice will understand,” he said. On Friday, however, he told the editorial list of News that he would answer the Slovenes. “I know about the letter and I will definitely be happy to answer my Slovenian colleagues next week in peace and quiet,” Vondra wrote in an SMS message.
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Slovenian MEPs received answers on Monday. “I am sincerely sorry that at the moment I was unable to separate the emotions of a devoted football fan from the rational and responsible view of a public official and politician,” Vondra writes in the introduction. letter published on the MEP’s website.
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Vondra then explains how his “short circuit” occurred and “what he deduces from it.” According to the Czech MEP, his colleagues correctly write that we compete for sports in trophies and honor, but when we lose, we shake hands amicably as a sign of a fair fight. “Yes, that’s how it should be. Unfortunately, the course of the match and the erect fingers and smiles of the referees led by Damir Skomina after the end of the mentioned match did not allow such a conclusion this time, “writes Vondra. According to him, the ODS representative in the European Parliament still finds it difficult to come to terms with this “involuntary injustice”.
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But Vondra also admits that even that does not entitle him to utter the words used. “The principle of collective guilt is completely unacceptable to me, as are the rude and low words I used. I am sorry for what happened, and I apologize to all the people not only in Slovenia, but also at home in the Czech Republic and anywhere in Europe, “writes the MEP.
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Vondra’s letter concludes by saying that Slovenia is a country that enjoys natural sympathy in the Czech Republic. He also agrees with part of the letter from his Slovenian colleagues that EU members are trying to ensure that there is no place on the European continent for any wars, chauvinism or hatred. “Believe that I fully and unconditionally share such a belief,” Vondra concluded.
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