Ondrej Kudela’s 10-game ban for racially abusing Rangers’ Glen Kamara is UPHELD by UEFA

UEFA have dismissed Ondrej Kudela’s appeal against his 10-match ban after he was found guilty of racially abusing Glen Kamara, meaning he will now miss the Euros.

The disgraced defender was eventually slapped with the suspension in April after racially abusing Kamara during Slavia Prague’s Europa League last-16 second leg victory over Rangers at Ibrox in March.

Kudela had appealed against the 10-match ban, which applies to all UEFA competitions – including club and international matches.

But UEFA have since upheld their original decision, releasing the following statement on Wednesday evening: ‘The appeal lodged by Mr. Ondrej Kudela has been dismissed. 

‘Consequently, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body’s (CEDB) decision of 14 April 2021 is confirmed.

The CEDB had decided to suspend SK Slavia Praha player, Mr. Ondrej Kudela, for the next ten (10) UEFA club and representative team competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible to play, for racist behaviour.’

Kudela had not given up hope of representing Czech Republic at this summer’s Euros before his appeal verdict was announced on Wednesday.

Czech boss Jaroslav Silhavy, whose side have been drawn in Group D alongside England, Scotland and Croatia, had left one slot free in his squad for the 34-year-old defender, in the hope Kudela’s appeal proved successful. 

‘We will wait for the situation around the appeal of Ondrej Kudela against the ten-match penalty to develop this week,’ he had earlier told reporters. 

‘We feel that the hope is probably low but we do not want to slam the door. In any case, we have time to operate with that one place on the roster until June 1.’

But Kudela’s chances of featuring at the Euros are now over following UEFA’s latest verdict. 

The incident massively overshadowed Slavia’s win over Rangers in Glasgow, and Kamara and his team-mates reacted with fury after the Gers midfielder was racially abused by the Slavia defender in March.

While Kudela was hit with a 10-game ban, Kamara was also punished with a three-match suspension for allegedly assaulting Kudela in the Ibrox tunnel after the game.