Slavia Prague defender Ondřej Kúdela was banned for 10 games by UEFA on Wednesday for racially abusing Rangers' Glen Kamara in the Europa League.
UEFA said the ban would apply to “club and representative team competition matches.” Ten games is the minimum ban for racial abuse in UEFA's disciplinary code.
Kúdela is set to miss the rest of Slavia’s Europa League campaign and the Czech Republic’s games at the European Championship.
Kúdela, Slavia and likely the Czech football federation can appeal against the ban, first to UEFA and then the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
ALSO READ | Seedorf wants players punished if they talk behind hands
Kúdela covered his mouth with both hands when he spoke into Kamara’s ear during a Europa League game in Glasgow last month. He denied Kamara’s accusation that he used racist language that another Rangers player also claimed to have heard.
“I am taking positive steps to prevent such a situation from happening in our club ever again,” said Jaroslav Tvrdík, Slavia's chief executive.
In the club statement, Kúdela insisted he had not been racist but acknowledged that “it was a mistake to approach Glen Kamara and talk to him.”
“There were emotions in the game and I’m not in a position to return it back. I’m really sorry about it,” he said.
UEFA also banned Kamara for three European club competition games next season for assaulting Kúdela after the game, which Slavia won 2-0.
UEFA anti-discrimination advisory welcomes verdict
The Fare group, which advises UEFA on anti-discrimination, welcomed the verdict for Kúdela as “a marker for others to follow.”
“Since September 2020 we have seen at least six high-profile cases of racism or homophobia involving players abusing other players on the field of play worldwide," Fare said in a statement. “Most cases have led to no action by national football associations.”
“We hope this decision can give Glen Kamara and all who campaign against discrimination and equality in football a sense of justice.”
Comments
SHARE