West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal has expressed deep remorse for the incident that led to his expulsion from the Czech Republic’s international squad. In comments covered by Idnes today, Coufal publicly apologized for his actions and affirmed his commitment to proving skeptics wrong, with a determination to return in the future.
Coufal, along with Jakub Brabec and Jan Kuchta, was removed from the Czech Republic’s squad after an unauthorized visit to a night club in Olomouc. This decision followed a night of revelry with Tomáš Neumann, a member of the FAČR executive committee, despite imminent games.
The repercussions included widespread criticism and the resignation of manager Jaroslav Šilhavý, despite the team’s qualification for the upcoming tournament.
While Coufal missed out on witnessing his country’s Euro 2024 qualification, he expressed joy at the achievement and acknowledged his error in judgment.
Idnes reported Coufal acknowledging his mistake, expressing disappointment in himself for the unfolding events. He admitted to violating his own principles for the first time in his career, emphasizing that he had no business being at the night club two days before the game. Coufal, known for his professional behavior, recognized the gravity of his actions and the missed opportunity to share in the team’s success.
He conveyed sincere congratulations to the Czech national team, regretting the self-imposed absence from the significant experience of Euro 2024 qualification. Coufal recognized the impact on his role as a representative and role model for many children, vowing to do everything possible to regain that trust in the future. He acknowledged letting down those he cares about and expressed profound regret for disappointing himself and straying from the life path he had steadfastly followed for a long time.