Rangers have made a change to their initial response to bans handed to Glen Kamara and Ondrej Kudela by UEFA after fans pointed out an apparent error [Rangers.co.uk].
Kudela has been banned for ten matches after being found guilty of racially abusing Kamara during a Europa League Last 16 second-leg clash at Ibrox last month, but the Gers star has picked up a suspension of his own (three matches) for an incident in the tunnel after the game.
Additionally, Kemar Roofe has been banned for four matches for a challenge earlier in the match which left Slavia keeper Ondrej Kolar with a fractured skull.
Following the verdicts, Rangers released a statement.
The club asserted that Kudela’s punishment ‘not only vindicates Glen Kamara’s evidence but underlines the severity of the comment’ before stating their satisfaction that the ‘maximum’ ban had been imposed.
Supporters quickly jumped on that comment, though, pointing out that a 10-game ban is actually the minimum punishment for an offence of this nature.
It seems that Rangers soon recognised their error as that section of the statement was subsequently re-worded and now reads: ‘We welcome the suspension imposed on Ondrej Kudela. This not only vindicates Glen Kamara’s evidence but underlines the severity of the comment, given the number of games which have been imposed by UEFA.’
The Gers also confirmed that they have written to UEFA stating their intention to appeal the bans handed to Kamara and Roofe, which they feel are ‘severe’.
Meanwhile, Kamara’s lawyer Aamer Anwar has criticised the ban given to his client.
