The city-owned trade fair company in Brno, Czech Republic, has been penalized for failing to adhere to public procurement regulations. Despite being a publicly funded entity, Veletrhy Brno directly awarded a contract worth over 20 million Czech crowns without a public tender. The Czech Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) issued a fine of 200,000 Czech crowns for this breach of procedure. This decision was recently upheld by a court, confirming the violation of fair competition principles. The case highlights concerns about transparency and accountability in the awarding of public contracts. The direct assignment of the contract bypassed the required competitive bidding process. This outcome underscores the importance of following established legal frameworks for public spending.