Steven Gerrard accused Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela of racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara after tempers flared during their Europa League clash.
Rangers were knocked out of the competition in a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox, which they ended with nine men after Leon Balogun and Kemar Roofe were both sent off.
Liverpool legend Gerrard admitted afterwards that his side had been beaten by the better team – but he was fuming over an incident late in the game.
Slavia defender Kudela said something to Kamara while covering his mouth – and the Rangers midfielder reacted with shock and anger as team-mates leapt to his defence.
Kudela and Rangers defender Conor Goldson were both booked in the ensuing melee – and Gerrard afterwards gave his backing to Kamara.
Speaking to the media, the Gers manager said: “First, I’ll deal with the football side. We were beaten by the better team over the two legs so congratulations to Slavia.
“They deserved it and in no way do I want to sit here and be a bad loser and come out with any excuses. I’m really proud of my player for the efforts and the journey they took us on.
“In terms of the other incident, I have to be careful what I say but you build relationships in football and I have built a very, very strong relationship with Glen Kamara.
“Glen Kamara to me is one of my own. I 100 percent believe what he is saying in terms of the accusation. Other players around him heard it.
“I will stand with Glen Kamara and deal with it however he wants to deal with it. I’m proud of all of my players tonight. They showed solidarity and from the top of this club to the bottom we stand with the players.
Gerrard urged European football bosses to investigate, saying: “It’s over to UEFA now, this situation, and I just hope it doesn’t get brushed under the carpet.
“I feel angry right now. It’s difficult to describe how I feel because I know Glen, I trust him 100 percent. It’s extremely disappointing and there’s too much of it happening around football.
“The Slavia player has caused this, caused the situation to escalate even further because straight away the fans join in and the racism just grows and grows and grows.”
After the game, Slavia president Jaroslav Tvrdik took to Twitter saying the club denied the allegation of racial abuse.
He tweeted: “Slavia categorically opposes the fact that the player Ondrej Kudela racially insulted the players’ opponents in any way.”
A statement from Slavia reads: “Slavia resolutely denies the disgusting accusation of one of the team captains Ondřej Kúdela of racist behaviour. Already the founders of our club gave us crest where white colour means “the purity of the idea of sports and fair contest where the rival is not our enemy, but respected opponent.” Today, Slavia is an international club based on respect for our opponents and mutual respect of all people and cultures.
“After one of the brutal fouls, Ondřej Kúdela spoke to one of the Rangers players. “I told him ‘You f***ing guy’. It was said in emotions, but I absolutely deny there was anything racist in those words,” Kúdela stated.
“Slavia players faced an unprecedentedly malicious play from their opponents. They have never experienced such play in any game they participated in modern history of the European competitions. Many brutal tackles resulted in injuries of our players. Goalkeeper Ondřej Kolář was taken to hospital with ten stitches on his head.
“After the end of the game, the team was not allowed to enter the dressing room. Ondřej Kúdela was assaulted by player Kamara and hit with fists in the head when Rangers manager Steven Gerrard witnessed the incident. Even the UEFA representatives who were also present on the site of the incident were shocked by this behaviour.
“The team is now safe accompanied by the Scottish police.”
Scotland Police, Kamara’s respresentatives and UEFA have been contacted for comment.
