UEFA have banned Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela for TEN games for ‘racist behaviour’ after claims he called Rangers’ Glen Kamara a ‘monkey’.
The Gers ace has also been handed a three-game suspension after being found guilty of assaulting the Czech Republic international in March during an ill-disciplined Europa League tie.
The disciplinary panel at European football’s governing body met on Wednesday to come to a decision on the separate charges against both players.
Kamara claimed defender Ondrej Kudela directed racist language at him during the newly-crowned Scottish champions’ second leg loss on March 18.
The Finnish ace alleged that he was branded a ‘f*****g monkey’ by Kudela, with team-mate Bongani Zungu backing up those claims.
The defender could be seen walking up to Kamara to speak in his ear, sparking a furious reaction from the 25-year-old and his Ibrox team-mates – particularly Connor Goldson.
Uefa provisionally suspended the Slavia defender for ONE match – included in the new formal ban – as they officially launched proceedings against BOTH players last week.
Uefa opened proceedings against the Slavia ace in relation to a potential violation of Article 14 (1) and/or 15 (1) of their disciplinary regulations – while Kamara was investigated for a potential violation of Article 15 (1).
The Czech international denied the charge and counterclaimed that he was assaulted by the Gers midfielder in the tunnel after the game.
Slavia vigorously supported their player throughout the saga – dismissing all claims of wrongdoing from the off.
Both players were found guilty of the charges they faced with bans issued for ‘racist behaviour’ and ‘assaulting another player’.
The Uefa statement reads: “Following an investigation conducted by a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector regarding the incidents that occurred during the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 second leg match between Rangers FC and SK Slavia Praha on 18 March 2021, and the subsequent proceedings opened against Mr. Ondřej Kúdela and Mr. Glen Kamara, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has taken the following decisions.
“To suspend SK Slavia Praha player, Mr. Ondřej Kúdela, for the next ten (10) UEFA club and representative team competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible to play, for racist behaviour, which includes the one-match provisional suspension served by the player during SK Slavia Praha’s 2020/21 UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg match against Arsenal FC on 8 April 2021.
“To suspend Rangers FC player, Mr. Glen Kamara, for three (3) UEFA club competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible to play, for assaulting another player.”
The bans are the result of an investigation into the matter by a Uefa-appointed Spanish lawyer following the dramatic scenes during the Europa League last 16 tie.
Scottish police are also investigating both charges – although no arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.
Cops were unable to question the 34-year-old as planned, with his one-game ban meaning he did not travel to London for his side’s clash with Arsenal last Thursday.
Kamara’s lawyer Aamer Anwar hit back at Uefa on Twitter last week, slamming their ‘shocking treatment’ of his client.
He wrote: “So @UEFA ‘provisionally’ suspends Slavia Prague Kudela & he can’t play Arsenal, as it begins disciplinary proceedings against him for racial abuse of @RangersFC@GlenKamara4-If they are genuine about tackling racism he should be banned for at least a year.”
And the Finland ace spoke out for the first time since the events at Ibrox – insisting he wished he walked off the field, something he said boss Steven Gerrard was trying to get him to do.
Speaking to ITV, he said: “He came over and said ‘monkey, you’re a f****** monkey and you know you are’.
“From there I reacted and said ‘he’s racist, he’s racist’, my team-mate heard it. I had a lot of emotions going through my mind.
“If I could go back to the time of the game I’d walk off the pitch, 100 per cent.
“The manager was actually trying to get me off the pitch, but like I said I was on my own on the pitch and I couldn’t hear anyone. All my emotions were different and I wasn’t listening.
He came over and said ‘monkey, you’re a f****** monkey and you know you are’.”
Glen Kamara
“I had a lot of emotions going through my mind. I was angry, upset – I felt humiliated.
“All my family, friends, fans, whoever was watching, I was taken back a lot and I felt like a little boy. It was a really weird feeling.
“This kind of thing shouldn’t be in the game. It’s an every day life thing and I don’t know if we’ll ever see a change in my life time. If I can make a difference I’ll do it.
“There needs to be a big punishment. I know a lot of black players who are tired of being abused.
“There has to be a balance in terms of him getting a one-game ban. I don’t understand. There is so much evidence in what has happened.
“Hopefully they can come to the conclusion and people can see what has really happened here. I feel like a bit of a victim.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
