Maybe now the penny will finally drop?
Ondrej Kudela was been handed a 10-game ban by UEFA after being found guilty of racially abusing Glen Kamara.
Kamara’s claim against the Slavia Prague player – that he was racially abused – was upheld, and it’s clear the Rangers midfielder has been through a horrible experience.
Considering the disgraceful language that was used by Kudela, he deserves everything he got – if not more.
He will miss European games for his club and games for his country at this summer’s Euros.
Now the message has to get across to everyone in football that racism will not be tolerated.
Players need to be afraid to use the kind of language employed by Kudela in the future.
So, is a 10-game ban for the Czech defender a strong enough punishment?
I don’t think so. I can most definitely see the argument from those who wanted the
sanctions to be even more hard-hitting.
Interestingly enough, Slavia haven’t appealed the decision. They have accepted the punishment and apologised.
But I do think that Glen Kamara being banned for three games is over the top.
And for me, to ban Kemar Roofe for four games over the clash with the Slavia keeper that saw him sent off, is also too severe.
Thankfully, the racism episode has been dealt with, and not brushed under the carpet, as many feared would happen.
We do not want to see any repeat of this, but we must never become complacent on this issue.
The fight is going to be an ongoing one, and it’d also about making sure social media firms are also on board.
They simply have to do their bit to find any guilty parties who overstep the mark on their platforms, and have them removed.
Police are also making arrests.
So, hopefully, now people are not getting away with this kind of shameful language and behaviour.