Rangers’ players were outraged by Ondrej Kudela’s comment on Glen Kamara
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard was “angry and upset” after midfielder Glen Kamara told him he was racially ill-treated during his team’s Europa League loss to Slavia Prague on Thursday at Ibrox.
Slavias Ondrej Kudela said something to Kamara while covering his mouth in the final stages in hand-to-hand combat.
“My player tells me that he has been racially abused,” said Gerrard.
In a statement, Slavia said Kudela admitted verbally abusing Kamara but denied the “obnoxious allegation” of racism.
Rangers players confronted Kudela and Gerrard became embroiled in his opponent.
“The disappointing thing is that their people try to defend their player and call us liars,” said Gerrard immediately after the game, which the Rangers lost 2-0 and were knocked out 3-1 overall.
“I’m angry. I know Glen and I trust him 100%. The Slavia player caused this and something has to happen quickly, but that’s over me. But whatever happens, I’m standing next to Glen.
“I don’t even feel like talking about football right now. Now it’s over for Uefa and I just hope it doesn’t get pushed under the rug.”
Gerrard said he asked Kamara on the sidelines if he wanted to continue or leave.
“He said to me after the game that he wasn’t thinking clearly,” said the Rangers manager. “He wanted to keep going, he was obviously very upset.”
After the game, Gerrard spoke to Slav coach Jindrich Tripisovsky and Uefa delegates when he was looking for an explanation.
When asked what Uefa would like to do about the incident, Gerrard said: “I think what I want to do and what will happen will be different.
“Too much of it is still in the game. A lot of people are working extremely hard to get it out of the game. I’m angry and upset.”
In her statement, Slavia added that Kudela was responding to one of the team’s “brutal tackles”, citing a facial injury to goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar that resulted in Kemar Roofe being sent off. Rangers finished the game with nine men.
“Slavia players have faced an unprecedented malicious game from their opponents. They have not seen such a game in any game they have participated in in the modern history of European competitions,” the statement said.
“After the end of the game, the team was no longer allowed to enter the locker room.
“Ondrej Kudela was attacked by player Kamara and hit in the head with his fists. Manager Steven Gerrard witnessed the incident,” the statement said.
“Even the Uefa representatives who were also present at the scene of the incident were shocked by this behavior.”
A Uefa spokesman said the governing body was “aware of an incident that occurred in the tunnel after the game and in which some players from both teams were involved.
“We are waiting for detailed reports from the referees who were present at the game before we can make any further comments.”
Uefa is also waiting for reports of the alleged racist abuse.
Meanwhile, Rangers striker Roofe was exposed to racial slurs on Instagram after the game.
Shared the abusive news, Roofe commented, “I could be up all night scanning all these kinds of comments. @Europaleague.”
