2 Gers sent off as Euro run ends
Kamara claims he was abused by Slavia player in ugly scenes as Gers crash out of Europe
GLEN KAMARA was at the centre of a racism storm after claiming he was abused by a Slavia Prague player as Rangers crashed out of the Europa League last night.
The 2-0 defeat at Ibrox ended
Steven Gerrard’s side’s interest at the last-16 stage for the second successive season on a night that they ended with nine men after Kemar Roofe and Leon Balogun were red-carded.
But the result was overshadowed by ugly scenes near the end when Slavia defender Ondrej Kudela approached Kamara after a melee and cupped his hands over his mouth before speaking into Kamara’s ear.
The Rangers midfield reacted furiously, with onlookers in the near deserted stadium hearing him shout: “RACIST, RACIST.”
The home side’s captain Connor Goldson was incandescent and was eventually booked with Kudela by Israeli referee Orel Grinfeeld.
And the ill-feeling continued after the final whistle, with Gerrard coming on to the pitch to speak to some of the Slavia players – then becoming involved in a heated discussion with Czech officials, including head coach Jindrich Trpisovsky.
The incident will undoubtedly be probed by UEFA on a night that promised so much for the Scottish champions but ended in recrimination and rancour.
Former Rangers player Alan Hutton called on UEFA to hammer the Czechs. He said: “If that’s the case it’s absolutely shocking and needs to be dealt with.
“From what I could see, something was obviously said to upset Kamara.
“He went over to his captain to relay what happened and that was why Goldson reacted. Glen Kamara seemed to be shouting, ‘Racist, racist’.
“It’s something that will need looked at if it is what we think it is.”
Hutton admitted Gers will be frustrated to fall short with the quarterfinals in their sights.
The former full-back told BT Sport: “It was a massive opportunity. I’m sure the boys will be gutted in the dressing room. But they came up against good opposition in Slavia.
“They surprised Rangers with their formation a bit and it was difficult to get to grips with.
“It was asking a lot of the midfield three. It will be disappointing they went out but this is a side going in the right direction.
The ex-Gers defender hopes his old side can still finish the season with a flourish.
He added: “Rangers have achieved the No.1 objective but won’t want the season to peter out. They’ve the Scottish Cup and a big game against Celtic on Sunday.
“Ultimately they weren’t good enough on the night and over the two legs probably.
“Rangers were having their best spell before Roofe was sent off.”
Steven Davis admitted the Roofe red card killed their chances when Gers were on top but he had no complaints.
The midfielder said: “I didn’t have a great view of it but with the challenge there is no malice in it.
“He’s obviously caught the lad because I’ve seen him afterwards. He has gone for the ball.
“I think at that stage we’ve come out in the second half and you have nothing to lose, you have to give it a go with the position you’re in.
“You have to have a go and gamble a bit and we tried to do that.
“But the second sending-off makes it very difficult with the second goal for them as well.”