Kamara urges Uefa action over ‘vile racist abuse’

Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara has urged Uefa to take the strongest action after accusing Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela of “vile racist abuse” during a Europa League tie. Kamara claimed Kudela called him a “f------ m-----” towards the end of Rangers’ 2-0 defeat, triggering an ugly sequence of events which the Czech club claim culminated with Kamara assaulting his opponent in the tunnel.

Kudela strongly denied racially abusing his rival, while Slavia lodged a complaint over the alleged confrontation afterwards with Glasgow police and cited both the Rangers manager Steven Gerrard and Uefa delegates as witnesses.

However, with Uefa investigating the events, Kamara issued a statement last night demanding punishment for Kudela. “If Uefa genuinely wants to ‘show racism the red card’ then it’s time to stop the tokenism and take a zero-tolerance approach,” he said. “As a player I do not expect myself, nor any other to have to tolerate racial hatred on or off the pitch in 2021. The vile racist abuse by Ondrej Kedel [sic] took place on the international stage, and any failure to act by Uefa will be viewed as a green light for racism. During yesterday’s match, Kedel [sic] was arguing with a Rangers player and after I tried to intervene. He came over to me covering his mouth, leaning into my year, he uttered the words: “You’re a f------ m-----, you know you are.”

Kamara was backed by his South African team-mate, Bongani Zungu, and, in the absence of fans, their repetition of the alleged racial slur was clearly audible. Kudela claims to have said only, “You f------ guy”.

Slavia Prague later contacted the Czech embassy to request help with their security.