The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Former Dee star Kamara claims he was racially abused
Steven Gerrard says he will stand shoulder to shoulder with Glen Kamara as he warned Uefa they must not sweep the alleged racist comment aimed at the Rangers midfielder “under the carpet”.
Nine-man Gers crashed out of the Europa League following a 2-0 defeat to Slavia Prague at Ibrox last night – but the game was overshadowed by claims that the Czech’s defender Ondrej Kudela whispered an offensive slur in former Dundee star Kamara’s ear in a late flashpoint.
The incident sparked a furious reaction from the Rangers players, while Gerrard and Ibrox chairman Douglas Park were pictured confronting Slavia boss Jindrich Trpisovsky and his Prague backroom team several minutes after the full-time whistle.
Gerrard insists the Finland international will receive his full support after revealing the Slavia delegation had branded the 25-year-old a “liar”.
Slavia president Jaroslav Tvrdik denied the claims in a tweet – and alleged that Kudela was assaulted after the match.
The Ibrox boss – who saw Kemar Roofe and Leon Balogun both sent off as goals from Nicolae Stanciu and Peter Olayinka sent the Czechs into the last eight – said: “I have a very, very strong relationship with Glen Kamara.
“Glen Kamara to me is one of my own. I 100% believe what he is saying in terms of the accusation.
“Other players around him heard it so I will stand toe-to-toe with Glen and I’ll deal with this however Glen wants to deal with it.
“This situation is over to Uefa now. I just hope it doesn’t get brushed under the carpet.”
Nine-man Rangers met their match in the Europa League as Slavia Prague crushed Steven Gerrard’s quarter-final dreams.
Kemar Roofe and Leon Balogun were both sent off as the Czech champions claimed a 2-0 win at Ibrox to smash Gers’ 12-game unbeaten run in Europe.
Peter Olayinka headed Slavia ahead early on but Gers felt they could still turn it around in the second half.
However, Roofe’s dismissal for a brutal boot to the face of Prague keeper Ondrej Kolar was a fatal setback which was quickly compounded by Balogun, who picked up a second yellow as he handed Nicolae Stanciu a set-piece chance to expertly sweep home the second.
There was another flashpoint just before the end as the Gers players seemed to accuse Slavia’s Ondrej Kudela of an offensive comment.
But it is Jindrich Trpisovsky’s men who now march into today’s draw for the last eight after following up their last-16 triumph over Leicester with another British scalp, leaving Gerrard’s recently-crowned Scottish champions with only the Scottish Cup still to strive for this term.
A barrage of fireworks sparked by fans outside the ground lit up the Ibrox sky as the game kicked-off but it was Slavia who exploded forward 14 minutes in.
Slavia skipper Jan Boril’s cross found Olayinka, who got ahead of Connor Goldson to head home. Allan Mcgregor was the hero in the Eden Arena with last week’s wonder save but this time the veteran keeper will be disappointed at allowing the ball to squirm through his grasp.
Gers had a title party hangover to blame for their slow start in Prague but this time there was no excuse other than the slickness of Slavia’s build-up play.
Ryan Kent did bring a good save out of Kolar before Alfredo Morelos headed a golden chance over.
Little was going right for Gerrard’s team. Israeli referee Orel Grinfeeld was taking a lenient approach with Prague’s repeated fouls but chose to show Glen Kamara a yellow which rules him out of Rangers’ first Champions League qualifier next season for merely standing his ground while bouncing into Alexander Bah.
Balogun, starting ahead of last week’s goalscorer Filip Helander, survived a VAR check just before the break as he scrambled back to recover his own mistake after gifting the ball to Abdallah Sima.
It was clear Gerrard needed to change something. He gave it 10 minutes into the second period before introducing Roofe for Scott Arfield.
But the former Leeds striker was only on for seven minutes before he was heading off again as he saw red for his challenge on Kolar.
Chasing a long Goldson pass, Roofe lunged forward with a high boot that flew into the keeper’s face, leaving blood gushing from a head wound.
As Roofe made his way for the tunnel, Kolar was stretchered off to be replaced by 18-year-old debutant Matyas Vagner.
But Rangers did not get a chance to test the youngster’s nerve as Balogun followed up his booking for a firsthalf foul on Lukas Provod with another after a crunching tackle into Boril, which left referee Grinfeeld no option but to flash red again. And Rangers’ remarkable continental run was finally killed off as Stanciu swept home a stunning free-kick.
A bad tempered affair threatened to boil over just before the end when Kudela whispered something in Kamara’s ear, drawing a furious reaction from the Rangers players before the officials could restore calm.
That sparked some heated exchanges on the touchline, with Gerrard talking to opposite number Jindrich Tripisovsky and Slavia officials long after the final whistle had confirmed their exit.
The conversation appeared to surround whatever Kudela said to former Dundee midfielder Kamara, with the Rangers boss cupping his hands around his mouth in demonstration.