Olayinka’s Slavia teammate Kudela banned for 10 matches over racist abuse

ONDREJ Kudela, who is a teammate of Super Eagles forward Peter Olayinka at Czech club Slavia Prague, has been banned for 10 matches after he was found guilty of racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara –  who has also been suspended for three games.

Kamara was found guilty of assaulting Kudela after the bad-tempered UEFA Europa League clash at Ibrox in March, which Slavia won.

Rangers striker Kemar Roofe has also been punished with a four-game ban after Ondrej Kolar suffered a fractured skull in a challenge during the game. 

Rangers, the club of Nigeria duo Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun, were fined €9,000 for failing to control their players during the match.

Roofe and Balogun were sent off on the night, as the Slavia won 2-0 to advance to the quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate.

Rangers said they welcomed Kudela’s suspension since it “vindicates Glen Kamara’s evidence” and “underlines the severity of the comment”.

However, they intend to appeal Kamara and Roofe’s bans, which they believe to be “severe”.

Kudela, meanwhile, said in a statement released by his lawyers that he was “surprised” by the verdict and reiterated his innocence.

The centre-back had rejected the “disgusting accusation” of racially abusing Kamara – while covering his mouth – amid a melee in the closing moments of the game, but did admit to swearing at him.

Kudela missed Slavia’s 1-1 draw at Arsenal in the first leg of the Europa  League quarter-finals last week and will also be ineligible for the next nine games played by either Slavia in Europe or the Czech Republic national team, which will almost certainly include the European Championship.