The Minister of Sports, Rudolf Huliak, has provided evidence suggesting that Ján Kováčik, the president of the Slovak Football Association (SFZ), received €260,000 from convicted fraudster Ján Šípoš. Huliak claims this amount was sent by Šípoš as a repayment of a loan Kováčik provided him in 2022. Huliak urged Kováčik to disclose the loan agreement to clarify the nature of their financial relationship, especially given the serious implications of irregular financing within the sports organization.

In the wake of these allegations, Huliak has announced plans to file a criminal complaint against Kováčik, accusing him of forming a criminal group associated with the financial dealings. Meanwhile, Kováčik himself is preparing to file a defamation suit against Huliak, indicating a contentious back-and-forth between the two. This conflict comes just before Kováčik's re-election campaign for the SFZ presidency, raising questions about the timing and motivations behind the allegations as well as their potential impact on the football association's governance.

Huliak's revelations cast a shadow over Kováčik’s candidacy, as they suggest a problematic association with a known fraudster. The implications of these financial transactions could lead to broader scrutiny of the financial practices within the SFZ and raise public concerns about accountability and transparency in sports administration. Such allegations could also influence the upcoming presidential elections within the SFZ, potentially swaying voters' opinions based on trust and integrity in the leadership of Slovak football.