Slavia Prague issue a statement to Glen Kamara and Rangers as racism bans are handed out

Slavia Prague issue a statement to Glen Kamara and Rangers as racism bans are handed out, causing a huge amount of controversy.

The Czech First League outfit have apologised to Glen Kamara after Ondrej Kudela was banned for 10 games whilst the Gers star got 3 games himself.

Kamara’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, says the ban issued to Kudela “makes a mockery of UEFA’s claims on taking racism seriously”.

He claims he also appealed a five-match suspension initially given to Kamara before it was later reduced to three.

Rangers striker Kemar Roofe has also been banned for four games after Ondrej Kolar suffered a fractured skull in a challenge during the game, with the Ibrox club fined 9,000 euros for failing to control their players.

Slavia have strongly defended their player throughout the investigation and more bizarrely accused Kamara of making up the incident yet we all saw it on our TV screens.

However, rather surprisingly, club president Jaroslav Tvrdik seems to have flown a white flag, finally choosing now to apologise to Kamara for the ‘situation’ and also said sorry to Rangers for the incident during the Europa League clash.

He’s also promised to take further action avoid it ever happening again and say they will work with British anti-racism organisations.

In a statement on their website, Tvrdik said: “Ondřej was suspended for 10 UEFA games and as a club we respect the decision.

“In any case, Ondřej Kúdela should not have approached the opposition player. I deeply regret that and apologise to Glen Kamara for a situation that has clearly caused distress to him and his teammates, as well as everyone associated with Slavia and Rangers.

“I am taking positive steps to prevent such a situation from happening in our club ever again.

“We want to learn even more from this situation, and we are open to cooperation with major anti-racism British organisations on workshops and setting up even more robust internal club rules.

“It is a way for us to organise a broader dialogue that should result in mutual understanding between people in Czechia as well as the UK. This would benefit all players, fans, and citizens.”

‘He came over and said you’re a f***** monkey’

For the first time since the incident, Rangers’ Glen Kamara has spoken about the alleged racist abuse he was subjected to by Slavia Prague’s Oleg Kudela https://t.co/ezyQQ3nFpw pic.twitter.com/67GvPBj5WW

— ITV News (@itvnews) April 7, 2021

Anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card also believes the ban is not strong enough.

The charity said on Twitter: “UEFA handing Ondrej Kudela a 10-match ban after he whispered racist abuse into the ear of Glen Kamara is wildly insufficient.

“Players can wear ‘respect’ on their arms, but without zero tolerance of racist abuse, it stands as an empty gesture.”

Rangers and Steven Gerrard have been critical of the racial abuse received by Kamara last month, and every member of staff at the club has been taken a week off of social media to send a message.

“I think we want to keep it in the media first and foremost,” Gerrard told today’s press conference. “We want people to talk about it and we are hoping it gets into the right people’s thinking in-terms of people above football – i.e. the government up here in Scotland and down in England as well and something big can come from it.

“We know we are not going to be the club and individuals that make that difference, but I think if people stick together and collectively, if people can keep it on the agenda for as long as possible, hopefully there will be change happens sooner rather than later.

“It has been spoken about for long enough now, and it doesn’t seem like Instagram or Twitter or the social media outlets are taking any notice and they are not listening.

“I think the only way they will take notice is if it goes above them, and the only people to do that are probably the government.

“Hopefully if football keeps doing its thing in terms of speaking about it and keeping it in all the media, on the radio and on the TV, hopefully something will be done because enough is enough – too many people are getting abused on a daily basis and it is not acceptable.

“It makes you frustrated and it makes you angry that these social media platforms are ignoring it – as that is what they are doing at the end of the day, they are ignoring it and they are letting it go on.

“We felt it was the right thing to do as management. We listen to our senior players, and collectively, we made a decision which our club have backed, and that makes you really proud that you have the club’s backing on something like this.

“Hopefully, other clubs and individuals keep doing their own thing to keep it in the media spotlight as well.”

Fans reacted as Slavia Prague issue a statement to Glen Kamara and Rangers as racism bans are handed out…

pic.twitter.com/p5dD97UEQp

— deko (@delboy1603) April 14, 2021

@StokeyyG2: Only 10 games, that’s pathetic

@egan_AFC: should have his contract terminated and banned from european competition

@andy_5088: If you truly stand against racism you’d terminate his contract

@andyb29: Disgusting team and fan base. Should have been a lot more.

@Frase_55: Vile club

@LWcfc: If UEFA want to be serious, stop making kick it out adverts and never let the player play in your competition again.

@dazlin_: Hahahahaha yous are dirty liars. Punishment should be far worse. Dirty scummy club and fans.

@Stucampbell16: Scumbag bastards

@ArsenalReviewed: Racism should come with a 10 season ban, 10 games is pathetic.

@cameronw_94: After covering it up for so long, you look a bit silly eh?

@iam_mattakinss: 10 games? Shame on UEFA!

@FlowAFC: Uefa can go f*ck them selfs seriously. If you are racist are support this shit leave football asap. I wish teams would come together and refuse to play them

@fraanksy: “No room for racism… for 10 games”

@wengite: Surely they should take action on the club for their continued denial and support of Kudela? That’s such a weird decision.

@seanknowsball: Fuck those spineless UEFA cxnts

@SamHMedia: Suarez got a longer suspension for biting someone ffs. Insane that it isn’t at least a year

@MajesticMikel: This isnt how you get racism out of the game. Nowhere near enough.

@AFCMo__: Pathetic institution

@TILIKI_OS: This is an embarrassing decision. Banned for only ten games? That is lower than a slap on the wrist. He is going to do it again. Just 10 games!! He should be banned from all UEFA competitions (club and country) for at least THREE years. That’s punishment.

@afc_ah: the club should also be punished since they were denying all these claims?

@cxdycfc: is that it?

@S_The_Invisible: If you are determined to have zero tolerance towards this then sack him.

@SuperDooker: I welcome this as a start. However, I have to wonder why Slavia did not admit the problem in the first instance and begin immediately to make amends, instead of lying to the world and trying to cover it up? I’ve always preferred Sigma