Czech defender Ondrej Kudela could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after UEFA rejected his bid to have his ten-game ban overturned for racially abusing Rangers star Glen Kamara in a Europa League clash.
Kudela was banned after abusing Kamara during the Ibrox clash in March as Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side saw their Europa League campaign come to an end but UEFA’s Controls, Ethics and Disciplinary Body dismissed his appeal yesterday.
The Czech defender’s lawyer, Rene Ciencial, says a decision over whether to take it to CAS will come this week after requesting a copy of the UEFA’s justification for dismissing the appeal, saying: “We have already submitted a request for justification, which is a condition for the start of international sports arbitration.
“We will consider whether to proceed with the process this week.”
Kudela’s ban will see him forced to sit out the Czech Republic’s Euro 2020 campaign – including a return to Glasgow to face Steve Clarke’s Scotland.
UEFA right to throw out Kudela’s appeal
While Kudela and his club continue to protest their innocence, UEFA are absolutely right to stand by their original verdict – although some feel the punishment could, and should, have been harsher.
It seems unlikely that there is anything Kudela could present to CAS to clear his name after failing twice to prove his claims of innocence to UEFA.
Kamara’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar is one of those who think UEFA should have been harsher on Kudela, calling their response to racism ‘tokenistic’
“I’m yet to hear any apology for the vile racist abuse and the death threats that Glen has received and continues to receive,” Anwar told Sky Sports News.
“I’ve heard nothing about that from the club [Slavia Prague] and I think that it is highly unlikely.
“I think that the club needs to look at itself but also UEFA needs to look at itself, at the conduct of the fans, at the conduct of the club and the fact that the club has still not issued a full apology to Glen Kamara. That is the very least that Glen deserves.
“They should have a minimum one-year ban for players when it comes to this and they should be fining clubs and players substantial amounts so that it damages their pockets.
“If, let’s for instance say, someone is setting up a Super League, then UEFA will almost move instantaneously and threaten all sorts of sanctions and punishments.
“But if it comes to racism, then it’s very tokenistic. Take the knee, fly the banner, pop up a slogan and think that it’s job done. It’s not job done.
“We’ve seen the abuse. The 24 hours, seven days abuse that has gone on. The vile abuse on social media. We’ve seen it on Instagram and other platforms and there is yet real action to be taken.
“The reality is this, take away the issue of social media and all this, this is about a player having conducted himself in this manner. It still goes on.”
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