Slavia player given 10-game ban for racist behaviour

Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela has been banned for 10 matches by Uefa after being found guilty of racist behaviour towards Rangers player Glen Kamara.

The Finn was incensed after Kudela whispered into his ear during a Europa League tie at Ibrox on March 18.

Kudela had been handed a provisional one-match ban over a lesser charge of insulting the former Dundee midfielder, and that ban is included within the overall 10-match sanction.

Kamara has also been banned for three matches after being found guilty of assaulting Kudela in the tunnel after the game.

Kamara claimed Kudela called him a “f ****** monkey”, something Kudela denied.

Kamara’s account was supported by Rangers team-mate Bongani Zungu and Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB) has now found Kudela guilty of using racist language.

The body’s full written reasons will be published at a later stage, and both sanctions are open to appeal.

As it stands, Kudela will miss the remainder of Slavia’s Europa League campaign – they play the second leg of their quarter-final tie against Arsenal tonight – plus at least five matches at Euro 2020, including the Czech Republic’s group games against Scotland which will be played at Hampden and England at Wembley.

Kamara’s ban only covers Uefa club competitions, meaning he will be eligible to represent Finland at the Euros.

Kamara’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said the 10-game ban for Kudela – which is the minimum sanction for a racist offence – “made a mockery” of Uefa’s claims to take racism seriously.

Meanwhile, Rangers striker Kemar Roofe has been suspended for four European matches after Uefa charged him with “assault” during the same match with Slavia Prague.

Roofe was sent off during Rangers’ 2-0 home defeat to the Czech side in the Europa League after a poor challenge saw him kick goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar in the face.

Kolar was left with a fractured skull and the governing body has now cited him for “dangerously assaulting another player”.

Glen Kamara was incensed by Kudela’s comments.

Rangers’ Kemar Roofe.