Slavia Prague have come out fighting against the accusations of racism from Rangers’ Glen Kamara towards their player Ondrej Kudela, saying they have been ‘subject to xenophobic prejudice’.
Both UEFA and police investigations are ongoing into allegations Kudela called Kamara a ‘f****** monkey’ during their Europa League meeting at Ibrox earlier this month.
But in a defiant statement, the Czech club’s president Jaroslav Tvrdik has accused Rangers officials of ‘escalating biased pressure’ on UEFA and the police as they look into the ‘unjustified accusation’.
Glen Kamara was allegedly racially abused by Ondrej Kudela in the Europa League on March 18
UEFA are investigating the incident after Kamara claimed he was called ‘a f****** monkey’
Slavia president Jaroslav Tvrdik has come out fighting against the accusations of racism
He also demanded punishment against Kamara for his alleged punch on Ondrej in the Ibrox tunnel after the conclusion of the last-16, second leg tie on March 18.
Police Scotland confirmed a few days after the match they were looking into the accusations of racist abuse reported by Kamara and also the criminal complaint Slavia filed against Kamara for the alleged tunnel fracas.
The tie was marred by a bust-up between both sides after Kamara claimed he was racially abused by the Czech centre back during a heated game that saw the Gers reduced to nine men.
And in a statement released on their website on Wednesday, Slavia said: ‘President of football club SK Slavia Praha, Jaroslav Tvrdik, demands the immediate halt of escalating biased pressure by Rangers’ club representatives (most recently a public statement of the club’s chief, Mr Stewart Robertson, made on 30 March 2021) and other public figures in Scotland on UEFA and Police officials.
Kudela alleged that he was punched in the face by Kamara in the tunnel after the match – he is pictured with the Rangers manager Steven Gerrard
‘Mr Tvrdík states: “The pending investigations conducted by the officials of UEFA and the local Police have made no findings so far. However, our player Ondřej Kúdela has already been the subject of a public ‘conviction’ without any evidence whatsoever; he is a victim of prejudice and a presumption of guilt.
‘”The UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector is still conducting an investigation regarding the incidents in question and has been granted additional time until 5 April 2021 to deliver his report.
‘”We believe in an evidence- and law-based process whereby Ondřej and our club both provide necessary cooperation to the respective authorities. We have presented evidence which, in our view, cleanses Ondřej of an unjustified accusation of racism.”
‘Mr Tvrdík adds that unfortunately xenophobic prejudice is evidently rising on the part of some stakeholders and some British media against clubs and players and, in general, against people from Central and Eastern Europe: “The sad side of the whole matter is that Rangers are trying to cover up overtly aggressive play by their team.
Both UEFA and Police Scotland launched investigations into the incidents after the match
‘”During the match itself, our goalkeeper Ondřej Kolář was gravely injured and sustained a frontal sinus fracture while our doctor was prevented to examine him on site even dozens of minutes after the final whistle.
‘”Not to mention that there were several other serious fouls against our players and a number of those have remained unpunished. Such behaviour does not belong in the prestigious UEFA Europa League.”
‘Mr Tvrdík also stresses that Mr Kamara’s assault of Ondřej Kúdela after the match is likewise included in the subject-matter of the pending investigations despite Rangers being practically silent about this incident.
In this regard, he mentions: “If someone is wondering what happened, the Rangers delegation claimed a wish to speak to Ondřej in order to clarify the alleged racial insult. The conversation was about to take place in the tunnel under the patronage and in the presence of the UEFA match delegation and the coaches of both teams.
Kudela (second left) has received the backing of Slavia Prague amid the racism accusations
‘”However, the cameras covering the meeting place were purposely covered and then Mr Kamara, with no warning and obviously having zero intention to have the suggested conversation, roughly assaulted Ondřej by punching him to the face.
‘”After trying to continue fighting he fled into the dressing room followed by Mr Gerrard without a single word of apology. It is a disgraceful incident.”
‘In light of the foregoing, the club and the player Kúdela await the results of a proper and independent investigation of both incidents. We call for calm until then.’
Tensions from the Europa League last-16 clash have continued to escalate, and earlier this month the saga took another disgusting turn when 11 of the Czech club’s supporters posed with a long banner that read ‘Kamara – just a n*****’ while holding flares to light it up.
Slavia Prague ultras hold up a vile banner calling Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara a ‘n*****’
Another image posted on the same Instagram account shows the group holding another banner that read: ‘Slavia Praha against all #TeamKudela.’
The banner, which was posted to social media on Friday night, was condemned by the Slavia Prague chairman, Jaroslav Tvrdik, who labelled it as ‘disgusting’ and ‘pathetic’.
Slavia won the second leg 2-0 to advance into the quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate as Rangers finished the game with nine men.
They have been drawn against Arsenal in the last eight.
