She was part of a partnership that effectively controlled Czech football for many years. Until last October, when her husband and former vice-president of the football association, Roman Berbr, was arrested and charged with corruption and embezzlement. Now Dagmar Damková has decided to speak for the first time.
Dagmar Damková is the first Czech woman to ever whistle for the highest Czech men’s competition. During her time as a referee, she played 101 international football matches and 45 duels in the Czech league.
She was also successful later in her career: in the UEFA and FIFA structures, she made it to the jury, in which she remained even after last year’s accusation and the fall of her husband.
“All my work abroad kept me afloat in difficult times. Everyone, including UEFA President Alexander Ceferin and FIFA Gianni Infantino, supported me and gave me a lot of encouraging words when I needed it, ”he says.
However, he does not have such support in the Czech Republic. On the contrary, the “rose among the thorns” became an outlaw. “The reaction of the fans’ boilers sometimes hurt. They talked to me about various things and they didn’t care if I was a woman or a man, “said Damková in the show, which will premiere on Monday from 19:00 on the Youtube card of Tomáš Řepka’s Red Card.
“When it was worst, we knew who was who. In his time, Roman’s (Berbra’s) door didn’t open, people called him 24 hours a day, and they always wanted something from him, then they were able to deny us. I was sick of them.” she added.
With Berbr, on the other hand, they could rely on familiar names. “Who do I respect? Those who did something remained mine and did not turn their backs on us. This includes Franta Chvalovský – and let everyone say what they want – also Míra Pelt and Jard Stark. In difficult times, I knew who our true friend was. ”
Although he sees his career future abroad, he watches Czech football from afar. “I am happy with the success of the national team, but on the other hand I pause that some current officials are not silent and instead play football. It’s after the election, there’s some football evolution here, but some should sweep in front of their own doorstep and remember their own history. Everyone has a shell, ”he says.
In the program, he will also comment on his successor, the head of the jury, Radek Příhod. “I congratulate him on that. He will definitely receive as many emails as I did, and they will not all be praiseworthy. And if I ever read the internet discussion today, I find out that it’s not just about Berbr anymore. I would recommend everyone to sweep in front of their own doorstep. It’s easy to throw dirt at someone. ”
Pelt Quarterback: That’s exactly your union, one big thief!
