FACR, the Football Association of the Czech Republic (Fotbalová asociace České republiky), is the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Its visual identity centers on a shield-shaped crest featuring a white double-tailed lion on a red field, a design element that has remained the dominant motif across the association’s logo history. In August 2021, the association introduced a modernized version of its logo as part of a broader rebranding effort tied to the 120th anniversary of Czech football. [1]
Design and History
The modernized logo presented in 2021 is the fourteenth in the association’s history; the first logo was created in 1901. The previous version had been in use since 2011. Work on the rebranding began in 2019, with the association citing the need to keep pace with changing branding standards and to improve communication in digital formats. [1]
The redesign was led by experts Miroslav Pomikal, Aleš Mička, and Jan Moucha under the agency VMLY&R. The process involved extensive research into historical and modern depictions of lions from Czech coats of arms and shield shapes, followed by roughly 20 sketches and versions before arriving at the final form. The creators simplified the coat of arms and significantly changed the lion’s appearance, making its proportions more symmetrical and giving it a more aggressive, modern look. [2]
The 2021 update was part of a staged change to the visual identity of Czech football, which also included new identities for the NÁŠ FOTBAL project and domestic futsal. A new logo for the Czech national team was presented later that year as the final part of the project. [1]
Meaning and Symbolism
The dominant element of the FACR logo is the white double-tailed lion on a red field, a traditional Czech heraldic symbol. The creators stated that the logo was designed to express seriousness, stability, clarity, and objectivity while referencing the tradition and rich history of domestic football. The redesign aimed to preserve dominant elements and continuity with the previous logotype while creating a completely original and unmistakable lion drawing suited to the football environment. [2]
Typography and Design
The FACR name in the logo is set in a cleaner and more modern typeface compared to the previous version. The simplified typographic variant of the logo, a plain blue wordmark, was also introduced as part of the new identity. [2] [3]
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