Ján Kováčik Secures Fifth Term as President of the Slovak Football Association

Bratislava, Slovakia – Ján Kováčik has been re-elected as president of the Slovak Football Association (SFZ) for a fifth consecutive term, securing his position at the helm of Slovak football until 2030. The election took place on February 27, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Bratislava, with Kováčik receiving 57 votes from the 87 delegates eligible to vote.

Election Results

Kováčik’s primary challenger, Peter Palenčík, received 29 votes. Martin Filipkov did not receive any votes, and one vote was deemed invalid. All 87 delegates – representing regional and regional associations, professional football, the Union of League Clubs (ÚLK), and representatives from women’s football, futsal, coaches, referees, and players – participated in the secret ballot.

Financial Concerns and Proposed Security

The election occurred amidst financial challenges for the SFZ. The association anticipates a deficit of €6.5 million in 2026, with a goal to reduce it to below €3.8 million by 2027-2028.^[1]

During the conference, Kováčik proposed establishing a lien in favor of Slovenská sporiteľna on three SFZ properties – its headquarters in Bratislava, NTC Senec, and NTC Poprad – but this proposal was not approved by the delegates.^[1]

Controversies and Calls for Transparency

A proposal to recall or suspend Ján Kováčik’s duties, put forward by the representative of the Union of Football Coaches of the Slovak Republic, Róbert Rybníček, was also rejected. Rybníček cited concerns regarding allegations of a €24 million debt related to the purchase of tens of thousands of Apple iPhones, a matter currently under investigation.^[4] He argued that delegates needed more time to review the details of the alleged purchase.

Kováčik and Palenčík’s Reactions

Following his victory, Kováčik stated, “After the election, I feel good, and responsible. I realize what awaits me and how much work is ahead of me. The delegates received all documents and contracts… I did everything with the best intentions.” He acknowledged the controversy surrounding the mobile phone purchase, suggesting he would have acted similarly if he were in his opponent’s position.^[1]

Palenčík expressed disappointment with the election results, stating, “I expected a more balanced election. I traveled all over Slovakia to convince the delegates… I believe that SFZ has serious problems. My ambition was to change the internal environment and bring more transparency into it.”^[1]

Historical Context

Ján Kováčik has served as president of the SFZ since September 25, 2010.^[2] He is the third president in the independent era of Slovakia, following Milan Služanič (1994-1999) and František Laurinec (1999-2010).^[1]

Awards and Attendees

During the conference, the SFZ presented gold badges to Štefan Boldiš, Gabriel Weiss, Ladislav Benedikovič, Štefan Pupák, and Jozef Kriš.^[1] Notable attendees included State Secretary for Sports Štefan Engel, Luca Nicola (FIFA), Armen Melikbekyan and Jozef Kliment (UEFA), and former SFZ president František Laurinec.^[1]

SFZ Presidential Election History

• 1994 – Milan Služanič
• 1998 – Milan Služanič
• 1999 – František Laurinec
• 2002 – František Laurinec
• 2006 – František Laurinec
• 2010 – Ján Kováčik
• 2014 – Ján Kováčik
• 2018 – Ján Kováčik
• 2022 – Ján Kováčik
• 2026 – Ján Kováčik

^[1] News digest: All to play for in Slovak football

^[2] Hlboká stopa v slovenskom futbale prezidenta SFZ JÁNA KOVÁČIKA

^[4] Slovak Football Federation Faces Millions in Debt Over President’s Guarantees