“Based on the deeper analyzes we have done and the state of the tennis movement, I have come to the conclusion that I would like to run for the position of chairman, given the upcoming general meeting,” said Kotrba. “We entered into negotiations with a number of people who want to help tennis in its difficult times and participate in its restoration and increase in credit,” he said.
Sixty-year-old Kaderka has been at the head of the union for 26 years. Like the head of the supervisory board, Vojtěch Flégl has been in custody since February. Jan Stočes was appointed temporary head of the union.
Kotrba is one of the partners and managers of the Chrenek, Toman, Kotrba law firm. Billionaire Tomáš Chrenko’s company Agel was the general partner of the tennis association until the subsidy case broke out. “I have a law office with his son and we are the legal representatives of Agel. That relationship is probably more than just a client – lawyer. It is based on human trust and basic human decency. I know that if we agree on something, it applies,” said Kotrba.
“We entered into negotiations with Agel. After the situation that arose and suspended the support, it was said that, assuming that there will be changes, she will be happy to continue and support Czech tennis, because she sees some development that is moving forward,” added Kotrba.
In addition to responding to the current situation, the main points of the June general meeting should also include a change in the articles of association, which would allow for an increase in the number of candidates for the post of chairman. The new leadership of the union should be made up of three members, i.e. composed of the chairman and two other persons.
We are considering the idea if we would be happy for the tennis association to be led for the next period by some presidency, which will be composed of three representatives. One part would be in charge of solving the difficult situation related to financing, the relationship with the NSA, and thus the financial office. Another would be in charge of the economy of the union, setting up processes to match what is required of us. And the third representative should be someone who will present tennis to the outside and be a representative of the continuity of the tennis environment,” Kotrba pointed out.
“We are dealing with the idea if we would be happy for the tennis association to be led for the next period by some presidency, which will be composed of three representatives. One part would be in charge of solving the difficult situation related to financing, the relationship with the NSA, and thus the financial office. Another would be in charge of the economy of the union, setting up processes to match what is required of us. And the third representative should be someone who will present tennis to the outside and be a representative of the continuity of the tennis environment,” Kotrba pointed out.
The National Sports Agency (NSA) revealed serious deficiencies in the management of the association during the inspection for 2021 and called on the tennis association to pay 29.7 million crowns. Since it does not currently have such an amount, the NSA handed over the case to the tax office. The representatives of the NSA stated that they will also check the union’s finances for the period of 2022 and 2023. The amount so far may not be final.
The NSA plans to continue providing subsidies to the tennis association in the future, but it must meet the conditions linked to the standard subsidy process. The funds should therefore be sent only after the general meeting. According to chairman Ondřej Šebek, the amount could be around 140 million crowns, as before.
Both Kaderek and Flégl, who is four years younger, are facing up to ten years in prison for subsidy fraud and negotiating an advantage in the awarding of a public contract, both deny criminal activity. Also facing prosecution are union secretary Jakub Fastr, head of the economic department Hana Baierová and former leading doubles player Daniel Vacek, who trains Davis Cup representative Tomáš Macháč.
Collusive detention, i.e. detention due to the possibility of obstructing the investigation, can last a maximum of three months. Both Kaderek and Flégl will expire before the end of May. They can therefore attend extraordinary general meetings in person.
According to media information, the tennis association paid out tens of millions of crowns from the state subsidy to Fléglov’s association Orel Jednota Praha – Balkan. For 2021 alone, it was more than 40 million crowns, which was almost a third of the total subsidy that the association received to support tennis in the Czech Republic. Part of the money intended for organizing tournaments allegedly ended up in the accounts of Flégl’s companies or companies of his family members.
The police estimated the damage at around 14.5 million crowns. According to criminologists, the essence of the machinations consisted in the fact that Flégl and companies controlled by him or those close to him had money reimbursed for overvalued or completely fabricated services – for participation in the organization of some tournaments, for the transportation and catering of participants, or for the provision of medical care.
