Scottish Premiership

ONDREJ KUDELA has LOST his appeal after racially abusing Rangers star Glen Kamara – putting him out of this summer’s Euro 2020. Slavia Prague’s Kudela was hit with a 10-match ban by European football’s governing body after he was found guilty of the comments towards the Gers midfielder at Ibrox in March in a Europa League tie.
Glen Kamara squares up to Ondrej KudelaCredit: PA
That appeared to rule the veteran out of his side’s matches at the tournament this summer.
And that has proven to be the case after Uefa’s appeals committee heard evidence from several of his team-mates on video conference call this morning.
The Czech Republic controversially left open a Euros place for the disgraced defender in the hope he won his appeal.
But now, Uefa have dismissed that case after today’s hearing, meaning he WON’T feature at all against Scotland in the Euros.
The Slavia veteran was found guilty of the abuseCredit: AFP
A statement on the Uefa website reads: “The UEFA Appeals Body today took the following decision: The appeal lodged by Mr. Ondřej Kúdela has been dismissed. Consequently, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body’s (CEDB) decision of 14 April 2021 is confirmed.
“The CEDB had decided 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.”
Coach Jaroslav Šilhavý said Kúdela’s chances of having the punishment overturned were slim, despite a spot being left open in 26-man squad.
He said: “We will wait for the situation around the appeal of Ondřej Kúdela against the ten-match penalty to develop this week. 
Kudela has hoped to play for the Czech Republic this summerCredit: Getty
“We feel that the hope is probably low, but we do not want to slam the door. 
“In any case, we have time to operate with that one place on the roster until June 1.”
The Czechs will head for a training camp in Italy ahead of the finals, where they will face the Azzurri and Albania in friendlies.
Kamara spoke out in a TV interview about the ordeal for the first time on April 7 – one week before Kudela’s ban was initially delivered.
The Finnish ace said that he was branded a “f*****g monkey” by Kudela, with team-mate Bongani Zungu backing up those claims.
Steven Gerrard exchanges words with the defenderCredit: The Sun
The Light Blues ace was also banned by Uefa for assaulting the Czech veteran, with the Finland international being slapped with a three match suspension.
Speaking in the wake of the incident, Kamara 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.
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“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.

ARMS’ LENGTH Nicola Sturgeon gave ‘short shrift’ to Rangers help plea when experts asked her to intervene during administration

“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.”

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon gave “short thrift” to a plea from experts to help Rangers during attempts to secure the club’s financial future, a court has heard.
David Whitehouse, 55, told the Court of Session on Wednesday that Ms Sturgeon didn’t want the Scottish Government to intervene when the Ibrox club was placed in administration in 2012.
The former administrator told lawyer Kenny McBrearty QC that he and his colleagues approached Ms Sturgeon, before she became first minister of Scotland. 
He said that Ms Sturgeon ruled out giving any help to Rangers because of concerns about bias.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Linfield join Rangers in 55 titles club as Belfast side make ‘joint most successful’ boast More

MARTIN O’NEILL wants to return to management in England this summer at the age of 69.The legendary Celtic gaffer is hopeful his CV is still fresh in the memory after two years out of the game.
Ex-Celtic boss Martin O’Neill is ready to get back into managementCredit: PA
The ex-Leicester, Aston Villa and Ireland chief spent a short spell at Nottingham Forest before his break.
Now O’Neill is actively looking for a post and is also formulating a new-look backroom staff.
Speaking last month, the Northern Irishman hinted that he would consider offers to get back into the dugout.
He said: “I probably have hidden behind this pandemic and taken a break.
O’Neill has been out of football since leaving Nottingham Forest in 2019Credit: PA:Empics SportWIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!

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“But I don’t think you ever lose your enthusiasm for it.
“That enthusiasm I had for Gaelic football and football hasn’t really left, so I will have a little look at these things and see what develops.
“But I haven’t exactly gone into a cave yet, although who knows.”

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O’Neill won seven trophies during his five years at Parkhead – including a Treble in 2000/01.
He famously led Celts to the UEFA Cup Final in 2003 but lost out to Jose Mourinho’s Porto side in Seville.
Since leaving Forest in 2019, O’Neill has worked as a TV pundit and has even covered various Celtic games for Sky Sports this season.

However, he ruled himself out of a possible return to Celtic Park following Neil Lennon’s departure in February.
He said: “I’ve had a great time here but my time is gone.
“The torch has been passed and it’s up to other people now.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page 

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SHAUN ROONEY headed himself into St Johnstone folklore at Hampden to win a Cup Double for Saints by beating Hibs.The result rounds off a magnificent season for the Perth Saints, having secured a top five finish in the Premiership alongside the two pieces of silverware.
St Johnstone celebrate Shaun Rooney’s goalCredit: PA
Callum Davidson made a raft changes to the XI he fielded against Livingston for the last game of the season.
Zander Clark was between the sticks and Chris Kane returned up top as did Rooney at right wing-back, while stalwarts Liam Craig and Murray Davidson dropped out to make way for Craig Bryson and Ali McCann.
Pacy attacking Glen Middleton, hero in the semi-final, also came back into the side as well as defender Liam Gordon.
Hibs gaffer Jack Ross had given plenty of players a rest last weekend too, including the terrific trio of Martin Boyle, Chrisitan Doidge and Kevin Nisbet.
St Johnstone boss Callum DavidsonCredit: Reuters
He also handed Cup starts to goalkeeper Matt Macey, young star Josh Doig, vice-captain Paul Hanlon, right-back Paul McGinn and Aussie midfielder Jackson Irvine.
Kane had the first chance of the game after nine minutes when Bryson poked a bouncing pass through the Hibs defence.
The Saints forward quickly pulled the trigger and shot over the bar, despite perhaps having ample time to take a touch. Put it down to those final nerves.
St Johnstone threatened again on 16 minutes through the speedy Middleton.
Glen Middleton battles with Josh DoigCredit: PA
The on-loan Rangers winger dribbled into the box but was denied by a lunging Alex Gogic just when the danger really looked on.
The Leith side had their first crack at Clark ten minutes later when Joe Newell shifted the ball wide to Irvine, who in turn had found space in behind Rooney.
The Aussie aimed a shot at the far post but Clark stuck a leg out to block it brilliantly.
And then just after the half hour mark came Rooney’s opener.

Rooney scores the winnerCredit: The Sun
It was a classic header from the rampant full-back.
And maybe it was filled with extra bite having missed out on a Scotland Euros call.
He timed his run to perfection to leap onto the end of David Wotherspoon’s cross and quite simply dominated Doig in the air and steered a solid header past Macey.
Hibs went close a couple of minutes later when Newell burst through the middle of the Saints defence and fired at goal – but his effort was always rising and it cleared Clark’s crossbar.
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That was about it for pure sights of goal until the half-time whistle.
Within the first five minutes of the restart, we had drama at Hampden.
First, there were claims for a Hibs penalty after a free-kick caused chaos in the box when Jamie McCart blocked a close-range header – those in green were convinced the defender did so with his arm but replays showed it hit his knee.
Whistler Nick Walsh wasn’t having it and the Saints subsequently drove right up the other end through Middleton.

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Newell managed to hold the winger up and then somehow got his body in the way of Rooney’s follow up to deflect a shot wide.
Just as the teams started rolling the substitutes on and the game’s tempo died down slightly, the Perth Saints found themselves taring a two-goal lead straight in the face.
A fortunate deflection found its way to Kane who raced into the box but as he went to shoot he was bowled over by McGinn and Walsh pointed to the spot.
Middleton stepped up but his left-footed effort was superbly saved by 6ft7in Macey – and the goalkeeper was alive AGAIN to deny Kane’s rebound.
Penalty for St Johnstone and a chance to seal the cup double…but Matt Macey comes up with a heroic double save for Hibernian! 🖐Unbelievable drama 😱😱#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/xicRWsRsFG— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) May 22, 2021

The remaining minutes were nail-biting affair – Hibs had plenty of possession but couldn’t find a way to break down the Saints’ tough defence.
On 88 minutes a promising Hibs attack ended with Boyle on the floor – Walsh quickly branded a yellow card for simulation.

Boyle’s reaction was that of a man resigned to defeat, both in that situation and in the tie as a whole.
And even when the fourth official gave Hibs a lifeline with five minutes of stoppage time, you felt that St Johnstone would still just hold on.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

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OLI McBURNIE has tonight confirmed he’s OUT of Scotland’s Euros squad.The Sheffield United striker has failed to recover from a broken foot in time.
Oli McBurnie will not live out his Euro 2020 dreamCredit: The Sun
Heartbroken McBurnie revealed he will be missing when Steve Clarke names his 26-man squad on Wednesday.
He said: “Qualifying for the Euros with my country was the best moment of my career so far.
“Not to be able to go to that tournament with the boys is heartbreaking for me.
“I’m devastated that I suffered a fractured metatarsal against Arsenal.
The Sheffield United striker is out with injuryCredit: Getty
“It has ruled me out for the rest of the season and has unfortunately ruled me out for the Euros.”
McBurnie, 24, has taken stick for his Scotland performances – but Clarke has always backed him to the hilt.
He has yet to score for the national team but did convert a crucial penalty in the play-off shootout win over Serbia.
Steve Clarke with the attackerCredit: PA
McBurnie’s Bramall Lane team-mate Ollie Burke would have been in contention to replace him.
But SunSport understands the forward is also unavailable after a broken foot ended his season.

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McBurnie’s injury could open the door for the likes of Lawrence Shankland and Leigh Griffiths to step in.
Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams and Kevin Nisbet look likely to be named as strikers in Clarke’s squad.
McBurnie would also have been a guaranteed pick – but will now watch from the sidelines.

Shankland and Griffiths have both featured during Clarke’s reign, with the Dundee United man probably in pole position.
The Tannadice striker has been a regular, while Celtic star Griff has struggled for games since the turn of the year.
Callum Patterson has also featured up top for the national team over the years, with Matt Phillips still available for selection too.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Rangers fans organise incredible Burj Khalifa light show in Dubai to mark ’55’ title triumph More

THIS is the moment Rangers fans in Dubai showed their appreciation for Steven Gerrard’s unbeaten league champions.Beaming a special tribute onto the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building – Light Blues supporters in the UAE were loving the incredible light show this evening.
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai lit up in Gers colours
The Ibrox side wrapped up a memorable season in style yesterday by beating Aberdeen on trophy day to see out the Premiership season without a single defeat.
Captain James Tavernier then lifted the trophy to Celtic’s domestic league dominance over the past decade.
Celebrations have taken place far and wide – with the scenes in Glasgow well documented.
Now, 24-hours after the trophy lift, a group of Dubai-based fans celebrated in the Middle East by lighting up the Burj with a special toast to the champions.
Gers fans in the UAE organised the tribute
An image of Steven Gerrard on the world’s tallest building
Standing at 2,717 feet tall with 160 floors, the hotel and Dubai’s main attraction remains the tallest structure on the globe.
Supporters over in the UAE organised a projected video display that took observers through the years up to the club’s 55th title.
The North American Rangers Supporters Club hinted at what was to come on Sunday evening when they tweeted: “Tonight the Burj Khalifa in Dubai will for the first time in history light up with the crest of @RangersFC.
“At 5.55pm UK time Rangers will light up the world. No other club has ever done this, and it is another example of what we as a support can achieve when we pull together.”
Fans were loving the display
And the club’s fans were loving the magical display with comments all over social media.
One wrote: “Unreal, massive credit to those involved.”
Another said: “Unbelievable. Absolutely top notch, well done to everyone who organised this.”
A third commented: “This is phenomenal.”
Another added: “Dubai Loyal – take a bow. Tremendous.”
And a fifth said: “The greatest sight that I have ever seen.”

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Meanwhile, Rangers ace James Tavernier has won the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.
The Ibrox club had all four nominees for the gong after winning the league and going unbeaten in the Premiership in the process.
And Celtic starlet David Turnbull has scooped the Young Player of the Year award.
Skipper and top-scorer Tavernier, goalkeeper Allan McGregor, veteran midfielder Steven Davis and mercurial winger Ryan Kent were all up for the prize.

Attacking full-back Tav notched 11 goals in the Premiership and ten assists in a highly productive campaign, in spite of a two-month gap late in the season due to injury.
Keeper Greegsy and midfielder Davis are already recipients of the SPFL and Scottish Football Writers’ awards respectively.
Steven Gerrard made it a clean sweep on the awards front by scooping the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year gong this evening too.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Steven Gerrard reacts to Rangers stunning unbeaten season after they sealed it with a win against Aberdeen More

STEVEN GERRARD took the hint about the title party that awaits him when he found paracetomol and dioralytes in his Ibrox locker as he arrived for trophy day. The Gers boss insists he is driven to succeed and won’t rest until he has come up with the tweaks his side need to keep improving next season.
A drenched Steven Gerrard with his first league winners’ medal
But first there is the small matter of an epic Ibrox title party to get out the way – for which Gerrard is well geared up with the paracetomol and dioralytes which someone put in his locker yesterday.
He told Sky Sports: “I came in today and I had a box of paracetamol and a box of dioralytes in my locker.
“I think someone is sending me a message that the next few days are going to be messy!”
Gerrard spoke to the media drenched in champagne – while the Ibrox side’s fans partied away outside.
Gerrard found paracetomol in his locker
He pinpointed a 1-0 win over Celtic at the turn of the year and a 1-0 victory against Hibs at Easter Road as key moments in the campaign – and said he wouldn’t be resting on his laurels – with recruitment key for next season and an assault on the Champions League.
“In terms of the season we played Celtic here which was a real key game after the new year.
“We didn’t play well especially in the first half and hour, 45 minutes. But we won the game.

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“We said within the staff this is a real good place to be in if we can beat the main challenge not being at our best.
“That was the key game. Then we moved through the months Hibs away was a massive game, the Morelos goal, that was a statement win.
“It was really cold we were getting changed behind the stand. In previous seasons it was a game where we might have come unstuck, but we’ve found more steel.

Gerrard rebuffed questions about his future – amid ongoing links about him returning to Liverpool as manager at some stage.
“It is not about me right now, it is about the club, it is about what next. It is a club where you can’t stand still. It is about the future.
“This has to be a launch pad. We have fixed the roof, now the sun is shinging, everybody is happy. But there are tweaks, things we have to iron out. Recruitment is key now.
“I’m happy here, I have had to make a lot of sacrifices family wise. But I want more.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Rangers fans descend on George Square as cops maintain large presence More

IT’S all over – Rangers’ Invincibles have compiled an unbeaten league season.Steven Gerrard’s squad made light work of Aberdeen, as this 4-0 win saw them finish their 38-game campaign with just SIX draws all season long.

An early Aberdeen own goal, which was added to by a double from Kemar Roofe, did most of the damage.
Jermain Defoe then made it No 4 with a quality strikers’ finish as the Gers finished 25 points clear of Celtic.
And while Lewis Ferguson and Fraser Hornby both spurned decent second half chances, it also meant another clean sheet for the resume.
That is now 26 for the season now – one MORE than Celtic’s record from the 2011-12 campaign.

It also sees the Gers finish the campaign with a perfect home record – with 19 wins from their 19 matches.
And it moved them over the 100-point barrier – as they move onto 102 points for the campaign.
Their total of 13 goals conceded over the league campaign is also a new British top flight record – outstripping a mark set by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.
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TalkSPORT host Adrian Durham said this week that he felt finishing the season unbeaten less than a decade after playing in the fourth tier was the GREATEST ever achievement in Scottish domestic football.
Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles at Celtic might argue about that but there is no doubt that this was a huge achievement for the Ibrox side.
They have completed their journey back from the lower divisions in some style.
Rangers fans mob heroes ahead of Premiership title party before being moved on by police More