Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela suspended for Europa League game against Arsenal as UEFA begins investigation into Rangers match; UEFA also begins disciplinary proceedings against Rangers’ Glen Kamara; Kudela was not due to travel to London for Arsenal tie due to illness
Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela has been provisionally suspended for one match as UEFA also opened disciplinary proceedings against Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara over their clash in the Europa League match last month.
Kamara alleged he was racially abused by Kudela during Rangers’ Europa League last-16 match against Slavia Prague on March 18.
Kudela instead claims Kamara assaulted him after the game and the club have lodged their own official complaint with the Scottish police via the Czech Embassy in London. Police Scotland are investigating both incidents.
A UEFA statement read: “Following an investigation conducted by a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector … proceedings have been opened against Mr Ondrej Kudela … and against Mr Glen Kamara in order for the CEDB to assess a potential violation.
“In accordance .. the CEDB today decided to provisionally suspend Mr Ondrej Kudela for the next UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible … Further information about this case will be made available once the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has taken a decision in due course.”
Kamara’s lawyer Aamer Anwar has subsequently criticised UEFA’s actions, labelling the ban – which rules Kudela out of Slavia’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal on Thursday – as “tokenism”.
Slavia’s assistant coach Zdenek Houstecky already said the player would not travel to London this week anyway due to illness, stating: “It’s a big weakening for us, Kudy is a pillar who has been in fantastic form. We were determined to fly to Arsenal .. but he has a cold, he has virosis and fever. And after a blow to the nose, he also has inflammation. He was under examination, but unfortunately he could not fly.”
Slavia Prague confirmed on Tuesday afternoon they had received the report from UEFA proposing further disciplinary measures to be taken against both Kudela and Kamara.
“The verbal incident on the pitch between Ondrej Kudela and Glen Kamara remains at the assertion level,” the club said. “The UEFA Inspector has concluded that ‘in the absence of compelling evidence to determine the content of the remark made by Mr Kudela, the undersigned EDI is not in a position to confirm or contradict Mr Kamara’s or Mr Zungu’s account of events’.
“The incident has been referred to the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body that shall now evaluate the evidence whether there was an insult or a racism-related insult.
“Decision on the player’s provisional suspension for the next one UEFA club competition match has been rendered in the meantime. At the same time, the UEFA Inspector has proposed a disciplinary measure against Glen Kamara for his serious assault of Ondrej Kudela that took place after the match.
“In view of the pending UEFA disciplinary proceedings as well as the Police’s investigation we will not provide further comments on the matter.”‘
Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela has been provisionally suspended for one match as UEFA also opened disciplinary proceedings against Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara over their clash in the Europa League match last month.
Kamara alleged he was racially abused by Kudela during Rangers’ Europa League last-16 match against Slavia Prague on March 18.
Kudela instead claims Kamara assaulted him after the game and the club have lodged their own official complaint with the Scottish police via the Czech Embassy in London. Police Scotland are investigating both incidents.
A UEFA statement read: “Following an investigation conducted by a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector … proceedings have been opened against Mr Ondrej Kudela … and against Mr Glen Kamara in order for the CEDB to assess a potential violation.
“In accordance .. the CEDB today decided to provisionally suspend Mr Ondrej Kudela for the next UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible … Further information about this case will be made available once the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has taken a decision in due course.”
Kamara’s lawyer Aamer Anwar has subsequently criticised UEFA’s actions, labelling the ban – which rules Kudela out of Slavia’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal on Thursday – as “tokenism”.
Slavia’s assistant coach Zdenek Houstecky already said the player would not travel to London this week anyway due to illness, stating: “It’s a big weakening for us, Kudy is a pillar who has been in fantastic form. We were determined to fly to Arsenal .. but he has a cold, he has virosis and fever. And after a blow to the nose, he also has inflammation. He was under examination, but unfortunately he could not fly.”
Slavia Prague confirmed on Tuesday afternoon they had received the report from UEFA proposing further disciplinary measures to be taken against both Kudela and Kamara.
“The verbal incident on the pitch between Ondrej Kudela and Glen Kamara remains at the assertion level,” the club said. “The UEFA Inspector has concluded that ‘in the absence of compelling evidence to determine the content of the remark made by Mr Kudela, the undersigned EDI is not in a position to confirm or contradict Mr Kamara’s or Mr Zungu’s account of events’.
“The incident has been referred to the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body that shall now evaluate the evidence whether there was an insult or a racism-related insult.
“Decision on the player’s provisional suspension for the next one UEFA club competition match has been rendered in the meantime. At the same time, the UEFA Inspector has proposed a disciplinary measure against Glen Kamara for his serious assault of Ondrej Kudela that took place after the match.
“In view of the pending UEFA disciplinary proceedings as well as the Police’s investigation we will not provide further comments on the matter.”
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