UEFA must go back to school and learn how to fight racism
Kids booing Glen shows harder line is needed
YOU have to wonder what they are teaching their kids in Czech schools.
Six months on from those shocking scenes at Ibrox, Glen Kamara found himself the target of arguably an even more depressing spectacle.
Last time it was a member of Slavia Prague’s team, Ondrej Kudela, disgracing himself in front of the watching world. This time it was city rivals Sparta and the next generation of their fans.
UEFA must have thought they were making a positive statement when they allowed Sparta to open their doors to 10,000 schoolchildren, relenting on an earlier punishment for racist chanting during a Champions League qualifier in August.
And what did they get for their leniency? The sight and sound of hundreds of children booing the victim of racial discrimination.
If this is not a wake-up call for European football’s governing body that token punishment and meaningless gestures will do nothing and it’s time for real measures to rid the game of this scourge, nothing will.
Steven Gerrard said this week it is time for the real powers that be to step up and tackle this problem. He’s absolutely right.
No nation can claim to be perfect when it comes to issues of equality and tolerance – least of all our own – but the only way to hammer home the message that this is not acceptable is to start booting flagrant offenders out of tournaments.
And how must Kamara be feeling this morning?
He stood up bravely to the abuse he faced in March and showed remarkable restraint in the face of further torment.
But the Turkish ref gave the high-pitched mob – most so young their voices have yet to break – exactly what they wanted when he sent the Finn off for the softest of second yellows.
Rangers always knew they were likely to face hostility in the Czech capital. They had not even left the airport when Kemar Roofe was confronted by an angry local branding him a butcher following his dangerous tackle on keeper Ondrej Kolar last season.
Perhaps had the Scottish champions been at full strength they may have been able to put up a stronger show of resilience. Instead they were left with just frustration at sitting bottom of Group A.
Gerrard is desperate for a settled XI but there appears to be no end to his mounting woes after seeing Juninho Bacuna limp off with a thigh strain just 37 minutes into his first start.
Even before that Gerrard was forced into a scramble as Connor Goldson – a colossus in Europe these past three-and-a-half years – was absent for the first time in continental competition under Gerrard due to a knock. With Filip Helander also out and Jack Simpson ineligible, left-back Calvin Bassey was drafted in to start alongside Leon Balogun.
Gerrard tried to put a brave face on it before kick-off as he gave the former Leicester kid his backing but it was clear from the off Bassey was out of his comfort zone.
Allan McGregor had to bail him out with a fingertip save after a slip on the greasy turf let Jakub Pesek fire in an early sighter.
Bassey may be a big lad but he’s not a natural in the air and it was his failure to put in a challenge as David Hancko got across the front post to get a glancing header on Pesek’s corner which cost Rangers.
The ball rebounded off the back post but before McGregor could claw it away the goal-line technology buzzer had already confirmed it had crossed over.
For a spell in the first half Rangers had looked a bit like their old selves. With Kamara blocking out the boos and Joe Aribo willing to drive into the box, it was a promising start.
Fashion Sakala, a surprise starter in front of Alfredo Morelos, showed his pace as he surged into the box but the angle was against him and his shot easily saved.
But with Bassey and Balogun looking like they’d never met before, Rangers found themselves repeatedly on the retreat trying to plug holes.
It was only Pesek’s shocking miss at the start off the second half and another big McGregor save which denied the hosts more goals as the Ibrox centre-backs were pulled wider than Prague’s famous Charles Bridge.
Gerrard threw on Morelos in the hope of snatching a leveller but instead ref Ali Palabıyık delivered another major injustice as he handed Kamara second yellow.
Rangers will be glad to see the back of Prague. Sadly they will have to do it all over again with Sparta in two month’s time.
Let’s just hope the Czechs leave the kids at home.