European football's governing body UEFA has handed Czech player Ondřej Kúdela a 10-match suspension for racially abusing Finnish international Glen Kamara during a club game last month.
A ten-match ban is the minimum punishment that UEFA’s Ethics and Disciplinary Body could impose on a player deemed to be guilty of racist behaviour. The suspension means that Czech Republic international Kúdela will miss this summer's delayed European Championship Finals, as the ban covers all UEFA competition matches, including international fixtures.
In the same judgement, Kamara received a three-game suspension from UEFA club competition matches for "assaulting" Kúdela. This ban will not affect Kamara's availability for Finland's international games.
The incident occurred during a Europa League tie between Kamara's Glasgow Rangers and Kúdela's Slavia Prague in Scotland on 18 March, when Kúdela was caught by TV cameras covering his mouth with his hand and whispering something in Kamara's ear.
Kamara said the Czech player made a racist comment during this exchange, which wasn't picked up by the pitchside microphones but did seem to be overheard by Kamara's teammate Bongani Zungu. Kudela and his club both denied that he had made any racist remark.
Slavia Prague further claimed that Kamara attacked Kúdela in the players' tunnel after the match, which is the reason for Kamara's suspension.
UEFA’s disciplinary body heard from both players in relation to the incident, and both parties still have the opportunity to appeal.